Call it a sin tax
Posted Dec 18, 2011 8:44 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Alberta government is mulling over a plan to increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco in lieu of cutting health care programs.
Premier Alison Redford is committed to balancing the province’s book by 2013 and in order to do so, she plans to up the “sin tax” on Albertan’s vices.
She says alcohol and tobacco use is a choice, and the province is choosing to tax the items that are a contributing factor to poor health in order to fund health care programs.
Although no decision will be made for several months, the province is seriously considering the tax hike.
The tax is reminiscent of 2009, when Ed Stelmach’s government jacked prices by roughly $1.30 for a dozen beer in order to raise $180 million.
