- Hundreds of thousands of tax dollars spent to promote new car insurance system
- Canadian Taxpayers Federation denied information on costs of campaign by Alberta Finance
- Freedom of Information deadline moved back till after provincial election

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today reiterated its request, initially submitted on October 4, to know how much taxpayers' money was spent to promote the new Alberta government car insurance system. In September and October the government printed and distributed brochures to households across the province, and paid for a large newspaper and radio advertising campaign, to promote the new system.

Alberta Finance refused to respond to the CTF's request to know the cost to taxpayers of this advertising campaign, stating that there was no obligation to provide information if the CTF would "use it against the government."

The same request was made again on Tuesday November 9, but the costs of this campaign - estimated to exceed $300,000 - remain hidden from taxpayers.

A Freedom of Information request for the cost of this advertising campaign was submitted on October 5, and the CTF was promised it would receive the information by November 5 - prior to the provincial election on November 22.

But on November 8, the CTF received a letter from the Alberta Finance Freedom of Information office stating that the information would not be made available until December 6 - after the election.

"Taxpayers have every right to know how much of their money was spent to promote the government's new car insurance system," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

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

"Government advertising should be limited to public health and public safety, like advertising the locations of where you can get a flu shot. Tax dollars should not be wasted on persuading people that a particular government program is good," concluded Carpay.

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.