British Columbians are familiar with Alberta premier-designate Jason Kenney鈥檚 top-line promises 鈥� 鈥渢urn off the taps鈥� on B.C. if need be, eliminate Alberta鈥檚 carbon tax and generally restore the province鈥檚 right-wing outlook.
There鈥檚 a second tier of promises that B.C. could start to notice, as well. Some of the impacts stand a good chance of spilling over, given our proximity. And they鈥檙e so diametrically opposed to the B.C. NDP government鈥檚 outlook, they鈥檒l be a source of intense interest.
The initial phase of the United Conservative Party鈥檚 agenda is heavy on revenge 鈥� against B.C., Canada, NDP thinking in general and environmental groups that have fought the oilsands for years.
Under the higher-profile issues, here are some of the ideas being hatched on the other side of the mountains that B.C. will be hearing about 鈥� and dealing with.
鈥� A dramatic corporate income-tax cut. The Alberta NDP raised corporate income taxes to 12 per cent from 10聽per cent, which is roughly in line with other provinces. The UCP is committed to annual one-point reductions over four years, which would bring it down to eight per cent, the lowest rate in Canada.
A 25 per cent tax cut brings back memories of the B.C. Liberal government鈥檚 first week in office, when it slashed personal income taxes by 25 per cent. (It鈥檚 not the only UCP idea that is reminiscent of the Gordon Campbell-era Liberals.)
It鈥檚 coupled with some vague talk about encouraging U.S. firms in the mountain corridor to move north. B.C. is just as liable to be the hunting ground.
B.C.鈥檚 rate used to be 10 per cent. The Liberals temporarily increased it to 12 per cent for two years during the economic slowdown, then returned it to 10 per cent. The NDP hiked it back to 12 per cent soon after taking office.
A 25 per cent difference in the two corporate tax rates will start to look appealing to B.C.鈥檚 very mobile tech sector in four years. Given all the political baggage, Kenney would be delighted to do the ribbon-cutting for any B.C. firms that head east.
鈥� Alberta鈥檚 carbon-tax repeal will have major B.C. implications. It鈥檚 slated to be 鈥淏ill 1鈥� when the new government takes over. It would open up another big tax gap between Alberta and B.C.
The national carbon-tax plan would eliminate that differential. But the UCP also plans to sue Ottawa over that national carbon tax if it鈥檚 imposed in place of the soon-to-be rescinded provincial one.
The B.C. carbon tax is on a schedule that calls for two more increases. British Columbians will be paying $50 per tonne of emissions in the next few years, while the UCP plan is to see Albertans paying zero.
As a rough guide, that鈥檚 the equivalent of about a dime a litre on gas, and a similar difference on most other fuels.
The UCP does recognize climate change and the need to cut emissions. But its plan for large emitters is less stringent than the current one.
鈥� A portion of the natural gas to be processed through the big liquefied-natural-gas plant now under construction in B.C. is from Alberta, and the new government is keen to increase that share.
The UCP platform says gas production is curtailed just as much as oil is and it promises to help build more access to the coast.
On the same topic, B.C.鈥檚 gas-royalty rates and regulatory regime are being scrutinized by the auditor general and others, with a view toward tightening it up.
The UCP is promising one royalty rate in perpetuity and various other measures to restore oil and gas drilling to its former glory.
鈥� The UCP says the 鈥淣o. 1 reason鈥� Alberta鈥檚 economy lags is the 鈥渇oreign-funded campaign鈥� to landlock its oil.
It formally recognized the work of 麻豆传媒映画journalist Vivian Krause, who painstakingly tracks every U.S. dollar that goes to Canadian environmental causes.
Kenney promises an inquiry commission into that money, and is committing to a $30-million attack-communications plan on the 鈥渓ies and myths鈥� about Alberta energy.
