Click here for Hi Resolution version of the photo. Click here for a second Hi Resolution photo from Tour.
CALGARY, AB: Today the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) launched an Alberta Debt Clock Tour that will see the 12-foot long Debt Clock visit 25 different communities and cover over 2,730 kilometers across the province. The CTF is launching the tour to raise the alarm about Alberta’s exploding debt and get politicians to take a firm stance on getting the province’s finances back under control. (Photo: CTF Alberta Director Derek Fildebrandt at news conference)
“Making our great province debt-free once again is the number one priority for the CTF in Alberta right now,” said CTF Alberta Director, Derek Fildebrandt. “We are going to take the fight to as many towns and cities as we can to rally support and put the heat on politicians to take a stance.”
At 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 10th, Alberta’s debt moved past the $10 billion mark. Alberta’s debt is projected to reach $21 billion by 2016-17 and consume $1.4 billion a year in interest payments. The debt will increase by $4.7 billion in fiscal year 2014-15.
Coincidentally, Saturday, July 12th, 2014 marked the ten-year anniversary of Ralph Klein standing on the steps of the McDougall Centre hoisting a sign over his head that read that Alberta’s debt was “Paid in Full.”
“This is a bittersweet anniversary for us,” said Fildebrandt. “Ten years ago we saw the culmination of a lot of sacrifice from Albertans, but we got there. Since then our government has fettered away the Alberta Advantage to the point where we have spent the bulk of the Sustainability Fund and hold $10 billion in debt and growing.”
The CTF is inviting local MLAs to take a “Balanced Budget and Debt Free Alberta Pledge” as it visits communities. This morning, Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson and Liberal Finance Critic Kent Hehr signed the pledge with Fildebrandt in Calgary and Wildrose Opposition Leader Danielle Smith is expected to sign the pledge in High River later this afternoon.
For more information on the CTF’s Alberta Debt Clock Tour, click HERE
You can download the CTF's Balanced Budget and Debt-free Alberta Pledge HERE
For a complete list of tour stops, times and locations, click HERE
Alberta’s debt is increasing by:
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