- Hundreds of thousands of tax dollars spent to promote new car insurance system
- Release of cost of advertising campaign delayed until after provincial election

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released information obtained through a Freedom of Information request on the cost of pre-election advertising to promote the government's new car insurance system. The costs of this promotion campaign was at least $864,102.37, including radio and newspaper advertising and the printing and mailing of brochures. Large newspaper ads and numerous radio ads claimed that the controversial new system was fair - an opinion with which many Albertans disagree. The amount of $864,102.37 is based on invoices through to October 6, 2004, and includes the bulk of the expenses, but not all.

The CTF initially asked Alberta Finance on October 4, 2004, for a rough estimate of how much taxpayers' money was being spent to promote the new Alberta government car insurance system. Alberta Finance refused to provide any information, stating that the CTF would only "use it against the government." The CTF then submitted a formal request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and was promised it would receive the information within the usual 30-day period, by November 5. On November 8, the CTF received another letter from the Alberta Finance Freedom of Information office, stating that the information would not be made available until December 6 - after the election.

The Alberta government continues to collect $191 million per year from Albertans through its hidden 3% sales tax on insurance premiums - an amount close to the claimed savings from the new car insurance system.

"They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on opinion advertising, to persuade Albertans that this new car insurance system is good and fair. Then they deliberately delay releasing the cost of this campaign until after the election was over," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"It is disgusting that the Alberta government would deny basic information to taxpayers on grounds of taxpayers using it the 'wrong' way," added Carpay.

"This information request was so simple that it could have been answered in a day or less. The government must have had a rough idea of the costs back in September, when newspaper and radio ads were already running," continued Carpay.

"While pretending to be upset over the cost of car insurance, this government collects $191 million per year from Albertans through its three percent hidden sales tax on insurance. Why not scrap this tax " concluded Carpay.