Alberta NDP leadership candidate Kathleen Ganley at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in Red Deer on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Increase Provincial Exemption

Alberta NDP leadership hopeful Kathleen Ganley unveils new tax plan for Albertans

Feb 14, 2024 | 10:10 AM

Alberta NDP leadership candidate Kathleen Ganley has unveiled a new tax plan that she says will leave more money in the pockets of Albertans struggling to afford the basics.

“We’re putting money where it matters most — back into the hands of working Albertans,” Ganley said. “This gives a break to the people who keep our economy running, who can barely afford their daily needs, let alone save a little for tomorrow.”

Ganley says the plan proposes changes to the province’s personal income tax system by targeting the basic personal exemption. The Ganley tax relief plan would increase the personal exemption to $26,000 from $21,885. The benefit would phase out at $148,269. The plan would mean no Albertan earning less than $26,000 would pay provincial income tax.

Ganley says this move is expected to exempt an additional 150,000 Albertans living in poverty from paying provincial income tax and offer savings of more than $400 to over 2.5 million more.

“An economy that doesn’t work for people isn’t working — and that is what’s happening right now under the UCP,” Ganley said. “Our plan offers a practical approach for immediate financial relief for Albertans.”

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Ganley is calling for immediate and decisive action in the upcoming UCP government budget. If the government refuses to act, she is pledging to continue advocating for relief as Alberta NDP Leader. As Premier in 2027, Ganley says she would introduce and pass legislation to cut costs for families.

“The UCP broke their promise in last year’s election campaign to cut costs for families,” Ganley said. “What I’m proposing now is a better model because it means Albertans living in poverty (earning less than the Low-Income Cut Off) would pay no tax.”

Over the coming weeks, Team Ganley say they will bring forward a series of ideas to make the economy work for Albertans and to build a team that is ready to work together and win together in 2027.

More information is available at TeamGanley.ca.

Fellow leadership hopeful Sarah Hoffman made the following statement in response to Ganley’s tax cut proposal:

“I do not support Kathleen’s tax cut proposal. Here’s why: this plan works out to about a dollar a day of tax relief. This won’t buy a cup of coffee, let alone help Albertans struggling to pay their bills. We are in a cost-of-living crisis, and the largest single household cost is housing, so let’s start there.

“The cost of the plan – about a billion dollars a year – would be far better used to increase Alberta’s supply of affordable housing. I’m talking about permanent supportive housing to help people living in parks and transit stations, affordable rental units for young people and newcomers, seniors’ housing, and affordable homes for first-time buyers.

“Rents in Calgary are the fastest rising in the country, and more than 100,000 Calgarians are at risk of homelessness right now. A dollar a day won’t help, but dramatically increasing our affordable housing supply absolutely will.

The third official Alberta NDP leadership candidate is Rakhi Pancholi.

Leadership results will be announced live on June 22, 2024, at the Alberta NDP Leadership Showcase. Details are expected to be announced soon.

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