Prentice and Notley battle highlight leaders debate

In a televised debate featuring the four party leaders in Alberta, it was two of them that dominated the night.

Premier Jim Prentice and NDP leader Rachel Notley often found themselves one-on-one many times throughout the debate Thursday, as the PC leader was quick to challenge Notley’s policies, starting with education.

“I hope Ms. Notley that you would agree with me, we have asked the school boards to contribute to solving the problem, they have $460 million, half a billion dollars in reserves, this would be the time to use a rainy day fund,” he said.

Notley acknowledged the reserves, but said they don’t do enough.

“That money in many cases, as you know if you’ve been speaking with the school board trustees, in many cases, is targeted for other things and it’s also not consistent across the school boards, so some schools have the ability to use that money, some don’t,” she said. “You’re prepared to send 12,000 new kids into the classroom next September without a teacher because that’s more important to you, it’s more important to you to protect your corporate tax giveaways.”

“That is not, that is not the case,” Prentice said.

But the subject that dominated the night was taxes and one of the night’s most memorable exchanges came as Prentice repeatedly asked Wildrose leader Brian Jean how he would cut $18 billion of expenditures from public services.

“Well I always appreciate a good fearmonger, but what I don’t appreciate is taxes, taxes and more taxes, we are the only party that will not raise your taxes,” Jean said, but Prentice wouldn’t give in.

“Just answer the question Brian, you’ve been offered the chance to answer the question three times tonight, answer the question,” Prentice said.

“Jim, it’s not a question that has any results to it because it’s not true, you are deceiving the people of Alberta with your fearmongering,” Jean said, as he referred to page five of his budget which would indicate where the funds would come from.

Following that exchange, Notley offered one of the night’s more memorable lines.

“This is certainly an interesting dispute between the two of you here, but I’m not really sure if this is the best way to be talking to a donor,” Notley said, referring to Jean and Prentice previously being in the federal caucus, as well as Jean giving Prentice a $10,000 donation last summer.

Liberal Leader David Swann not only attacked Prentice’s policies, but also the atmosphere in Edmonton.

“It has been so politicized and politicians have been picking and choosing who’s going to manage the system, if they don’t like them, they fire them and then they go on and do what they want to do,” he said. “That’s created tremendous chaos, insecurity and inefficiencies with a culture of fear and intimidation that is reverberating still 10 years after all these changes have been made.”

Along with slamming Prentice on education and a lack of action on climate change, Swann also brought up tax concerns in the PC 10-year-plan.

“The 10-year-plan is very speculative and I guess Albertans to know that you’re serious about taking a fair share from the largest corporations, getting the largest profits on the planet, much of which is leaving the province and they’re going to help us build this province and protect the critical services that we deserve,” he said.

But Prentice often went back to Notley on taxes and questioned her numbers.

“The last thing that we need are NDP policies that are going to damage our competitiveness, things like a royalty review, 20 per cent corporate income tax, which would give us a higher corporate tax rate than B.C.,” he said, to which Notley quickly responded.

“What are you talking about? Our proposed corporate tax rate is 12 per cent, I’m not sure who is briefing you, but I just do need to clarify that that’s absolutely incorrect,” she said.

Then Prentice said perhaps his most memorable line.

“I know that math is difficult, but 10 per cent to 12 per cent, is a 20 per cent increase,” he said.

“You said a 20 per cent tax, you didn’t say increase,” she said. “We’re not proposing a 20 per cent tax, that would be ridiculous.”

Jean continued his message about not raising taxes and controlling expenditures.

“Who’s in charge here?” he said. “Nobody is taking care of your money, a Wildrose government would take care of your money.”

Tune in to 660News Friday morning for analysis not just on the debate, but the leaders’ body language as well.