Calgary, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the United Conservative Party to pay back the federal wage subsidy in light of the fact that 20 provincial parties across Canada have turned down the money.

“The United Conservative Party ran on being the party that would look out for taxpayers, but now the UCP is helping itself to tax dollars meant to support struggling Albertans,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s Alberta Director. “Premiers John Horgan, Scott Moe, Brian Pallister, Doug Ford and François Legault all know that taking the wage subsidy is wrong and it’s time for Premier Jason Kenney to pay back the subsidy.”

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides employers affected by COVID-19 with a 75 per cent wage subsidy. While the UCP has applied for the wage subsidy, the CTF has confirmed 20 provincial parties that have not applied for the wage subsidy including the following governing parties:

• British Columbia New Democratic Party;
• Saskatchewan Party;
• Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba;
• Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario; and,
• Coalition Avenir Québec

Only two other provincial parties, the B.C Liberal Party and B.C. Green Party, have confirmed applying for the federal wage subsidy.

Political parties already receive special taxpayer treatment. In Alberta, political parties can provide tax credits for up to 75 per cent of the cost of donations, which are far more generous than the tax credits that Alberta charities can offer. Alberta political tax credits cost taxpayers more than $14 million between 2013 and 2017, according to the most recent Elections Alberta Annual Report.

“The federal wage subsidy is supposed to be helping struggling families and businesses, not paying for political attacks ads,” said Terrazzano. “It’s time for the UCP and Premier Kenney to pay that money back.”

For the record, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation does not take government money, including the federal wage subsidy.