Alberta NDP leader Notley demands province inquire into skyhigh inflation

Alberta’s New Democrats are challenging the premier to recall the legislature to act on the affordability crisis and tackle inflation.

They say the UCP made changes back in 2019 to use inflation to raise income taxes to the tune of a billion dollars so far.

NDP leader Rachel Notley says the Kenney government has been using inflation to raise our personal income taxes and will cost Albertans another billion dollars worth in new taxes.

At the same time, Notley says they also used inflation to cut the value of provincial benefits.

“The provincial government can reverse these changes immediately. Now over the same three years since they put that tax grab into place, they also used inflation to cut the child and family benefit, the seniors benefit, the income support program, and AISH,” said Notley.

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She says if they adjusted the tax system and benefits to account for the current rate of inflation, Albertans could get hundreds of dollars as early as August.

“If we work hard it won’t take more than a day or two to put this fix in place. Because we can’t wait until October or November or until after an election. Albertans need help now,” said Notley.

Notley says the government could easily freeze tuition, cut the interest on student loans, put the cap back on car insurance, and even scrap the camping fees in K-Country.

–With files from Lisa Grant