Barnes takes aim at Kenney after Thursday’s budget tabled

By Medicine Hat News on February 26, 2022.

Area MLA Drew Barnes harshly criticized the provincial government and his former leader Thursday, saying Premier Jason Kenney has used an oil boom to boost his image rather than tackle the scope of government.

“Kenney was elected on a promise of being a better manager than former (New Democratic) premier Rachel Notley, but proof of that is not in the pudding,” said Barnes, who represents Cypress-Medicine Hat. He sits as an independent after his criticisms of Kenney last spring saw him voted out of caucus.

Up to the budget, Barnes called for the elimination of small business tax and end to “the continued growth in government,” according to Thursday’s press release.

He says even without additional COVID-related spending ives, the province’s expenses have grown by about $6 billion over three years to $62 billion.

“If Alberta had continued with the NDP’s reckless spending, we would still have a $6-billion deficit,” Kenney said on social media Friday.

An additional $10 billion in revenue arrives from higher oil and gas prices. Expenses will fall by $2.8 billion this year compared to 2021, if the projections hold, but $2 billion above 2020 levels.

City provides mixed budget review

The group that represents Alberta’s cities congratulated the provincial government on tabling a balanced budget this week, but says the process has put stress on local government.

St. Albert mayor and president of the Alberta Municipalities Cathy Heron stated in a release Friday that seeing increased “downloaded responsibilities” thanks to stagnant or lower funding levels for policing, while urban city issues, such as affordable housing, were passed over.

“Municipalities are being pushed to take on additional responsibilities because the provincial and federal governments are not fulfilling growing needs,” Heron said in a press release.

Finance Minister Travis Toews announced Alberta’s first balanced budget in eight years Thursday, crediting hardline spending control and an improving economy.

The province also set its education property tax requisition – collected by cities alongside local property taxes – to rise by 1.5 per cent this year, which Heron said is above what many cities have proposed for municipal tax increases.

Infrastructure grants to cities also sits 37 per cent lower than average levels from the past 10 years, she said. The main grant program, the Municipal Sustainability Initiative, will be halved this year and eliminated after 2023-24 to be replaced by a new “Local Government Fiscal Framework.”

Alberta Municipalities supported the government’s support for mental health and addictions work as well as broadband funding that would see $390 million spent over four years.

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