PCs bring out big guns to slam Wildrose budget

With the premier on the road, the PCs brought some of their biggest candidates together in northeast Calgary to slam the Wildrose budget.

Finance Minister Robin Campbell led the team of six cabinet members to break down the opposition’s financial plan, claiming it will leave the province with a funding gap of $29 billion.

“I just think it’s irresponsible for the Wildrose Party to come out with numbers that just don’t add up,” Campbell said. “We have put a budget forward, the numbers are there, it’s transparent, it’s clear for every Albertan to look at our plan and the Wildrose has not done that.”

Joined by supporters, the ministers compared their plan with that of the Wildrose and blasted the opposition for not explaining what would be included in their nearly $5 billion in cuts.

“Tell me how they plan on building $25 billion in infrastructure, while borrowing less money?” Infrastructure Minister Manmeet Bhuller said. “What are they going to cut? What’s not being built?”

The PCs claim the Wildrose strategy leaves $5 billion worth of items on the chopping block, which includes post-secondary infrastructure funding and capital maintenance and renewal.

“They do not detail what they will delay, which roads won’t get built, which schools won’t get built, which hospitals won’t get built, which seniors homes won’t get built,” Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Minister Ric McIver said.

The timing of the panel comes after recent polls that show surges by the Wildrose and NDP, with many claiming ties between the three parties amidst PC approval going down.

The panel was asked about the need for such a substantial gathering of party heavyweights.

“Well you’re here, that’s a pretty good reason,” “McIver said. “We want to get your attention and get Albertans’ attention.”

Albertans deserve to make a clear choice on election day, they deserve to have the facts, they deserve to know what the promises are and they deserve what the backup for those promises are and so far, on our plan, Albertans have that available to them. On the other plan, they don’t.”

Campbell added the six members appearing together was important because they were all on the provincial budget committee.

In High River, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean responded to the panel’s claims.

“Well maybe it takes that many PC cabinet ministers to add up the numbers,” Jean said. “The plan is good, the plan is sound, it’s a plan that I’m proud of and a plan that I’m proud to run on.”

As for the surging popularity of the Alberta NDP, Campbell said he isn’t worried about it or their plan.

“The Wildrose is cut, cut, cut and the NDs are going to spend, spend, spend,” he said.

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