1. The economy and long-term plan

Alberta’s economic future, or at least the pathway to it, is on the line as Albertans vote May 5. That’s the message from Conservative Leader Jim Prentice who says Alberta is at a crossroads and must get off the oil boom and bust roller-coaster. He laid out a 10-year fiscal blueprint to wean the province off volatile non-renewable resource revenues and backfill an anticipated $7-billion hole in revenues caused by the collapse of oil prices. On the economy, he has suggested using the Heritage Fund to diversify an economy highly dependent on the volatile oil and gas sector. “Any meaningful plan has to contain hard truths,” Prentice said. “We are putting our 10-year plan forward and we challenge opposition parties to do the same.” Opposition parties scoff at his remarks, saying after 44 years of Conservative rule, the province has failed to diversify the economy and done little to save oil revenues for future generations. Low oil prices have already caused layoffs at some oil companies and oilsands projects, as well as in the industries that support the energy sector, creating economic uncertainty. 2. The budget and higher taxes

The Conservatives want a mandate to implement a budget that has modest spending cuts, the first income tax increases since the late 1980s and about 60 fees and taxes, including a controversial health levy. The 2015-16 budget presents Albertans with a record $5-billion deficit and a record $9.7-billion in new debt. Reversing the long-standing flat tax, Prentice made the decision to return to progressive income tax by raising taxes on those earning more than $100,000. Two polls indicate some anger over the budget. Some Albertans don’t believe the $1.5- billion tax grab was necessary. They don’t like the four-cent-a-litre increase in gasoline taxes and reject the premier’s contention that he can’t raise corporate taxes without triggering more layoffs. Opposition parties charge the Tories are trying to balance the budget on the backs of families and that they don’t want to upset their corporate donors by raising their taxes. The Wildrose promise bigger cuts to government spending. 3. The early vote

Opposition parties are claiming the Progressive Conservatives have called an “illegal election” by flouting Alberta’s fixed election legislation and going to the polls a year early. Under the law passed by former premier Alison Redford, the next election was to be held in spring 2016, but it allows the lieutenant-governor some flexibility over when to dissolve the legislature. After initially pledging to abide by the fixed election law, Jim Prentice began hinting last winter that he might go to the polls earlier to get a mandate to take action to address the massive decline in revenues triggered by low oil prices. Opposition parties charge the premier wanted an early election to catch them in disarray after nine members of the Wildrose, including then-leader Danielle Smith, crossed the floor Dec. 17 to join the government benches, and Liberal leader Raj Sherman resigned. 4. Leadership, trust and accountability



Jim Prentice has tried to distance himself from the legacy of controversial premier Alison Redford, battered by scandal and controversy over her spending habits. Redford’s use of government aircraft as personal transportation and the $45,000 tab on her trip to South Africa to attend Nelson Mandela’s memorial service caused members of her caucus to criticize her leadership style. Facing a threatened caucus revolt, Redford stepped down from her post March 23. After her departure, the auditor general criticized Redford’s use of government resources for personal benefit and the “aura of power” in her office that prevented officials from challenging her decisions. Prentice vowed during the PC leadership campaign to end the “era of entitlement” that overshadowed the Redford regime and he sold the government aircraft to make the point. But Prentice has come under fire himself. His remark that Albertans should “look in the mirror” to see who is responsible for the fiscal crisis had opposition critics questioning whether anything has changed. Eyebrows were also raised by the recent resignation of the president of the PC party to protest over party decisions that appear to violate the party’s constitution. 5. Health care

Health care is always a top issue for Alberta voters. They question why the province spends among the most per capita for medical care, but the system continues to be plagued by long lineups in emergency rooms and lengthy waiting times for some tests and surgeries. Alberta Health Services has been embroiled in controversy over its mismanagement of health care and wasteful spending in everything from gold-plated severance packages and excessive expense claims to outrageous cellphone charges. After years with a central superboard, the premier recently announced plans to reinstate 10 semi-autonomous health districts and promised to free up hospital beds by moving chronic elderly patients into continuing care facilities. The spring budget slashed health spending for the first time in 20 years, cutting $159 million from the $19 billion program. AHS received $13.4 billion — a decrease of $286 million or 2.1 per cent. But opposition critics say the government is unable to get a grip on wasteful spending and fear budget cuts to AHS and the elimination of 1,700 positions will further erode front-line services. 6. Education funding cuts

Faced with a rapidly growing population that has seen as many as 80,000 people arriving in the province annually, the government has struggled to keep up with the demand for new elementary, junior and senior high schools. Alberta Infrastructure Minister Manmeet Bhullar said in March that only one of 120 schools promised in 2012 has been completed, but stressed the government is committed to building them and 77 more despite the province’s fiscal crisis. Thirty of 35 schools promised in 2011 have been opened and 38 more, promised by Alison Redford, are now under construction — up from 15 last fall. But the opposition has expressed doubt that the backlog of schools promised will be built on schedule. They say the government wasted time trying to get schools built under private-public partnerships. The opposition points out the provincial budget provided no additional funding for news teachers for the 12,000 new students expected to come into the system this fall, though the government did provide funding for teachers salary increases. School boards, ordered to cut operating costs three per cent, are warning of fewer teachers aides, fewer support staff and larger classes.

Meanwhile, Alberta’s post-secondary schools, feeling the pinch for years, got more bad news in the budget. The PC government cut operating grants 1.4 per cent this year and 2.7 per cent in 2016-17. Student bursaries were chopped, but loan limits were increased. The government made it clear it wants to permanently reduce its funding to universities and colleges and wants to review tuition. That prompted opposition parties to warn that tuition will rise and university may soon be out of reach for many middle-class students. 7. Environment and climate change

The Alberta government has been widely criticized for poor environmental stewardship in developing the oilsands and for its lack of progress on a climate change policy. The Tories admitted last year they failed to meet stated goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The province’s auditor general has also blasted the government for its lack of transparency on the issue. Jim Prentice says Alberta will be a leader in environmental policy, but the province will not take any steps that would reduce the competitiveness of the oil and gas sector. Prentice said a new emissions policy, complete with an energy efficiency component, won’t be ready until June. The opposition parties say his foot-dragging has tarnished the province’s credibility on the issue, if it still had any. Critics say the province could reduce greenhouse gases, but the government has not demonstrated any meaningful commitment to climate change. 8. Royalty rates and energy policy

Jim Prentice said everything would be on the table when his PC government developed a plan to address the loss of 17 per cent of revenues as a result of the collapse of oil prices. He then rejected any discussion of raising oil and gas royalty rates as that could trigger more layoffs and possibly a recession. The Wildrose has sided with the government on the issue. But other opposition parties say Albertans are telling them they believe the province is still not receiving its fair share of revenue from non-renewable resources it owns. The New Democrats vowed last week it was time to put an end to “the PC fire sale of our resources.” Party Leader Rachel Notley is calling for the establishment of a commission to annually review royalty rates and recommend to the legislature whether they should be raised. The Liberals have also called for another royalty review. 9. Seniors care

Albertans are increasingly concerned about the lack of continuing care for the rapidly growing number of seniors. For years, opposition parties have called for more nursing home beds for seniors and criticized the government’s policy of encouraging for-profit companies to build assisted-living facilities that don’t provide medical care required by many chronically ill seniors. Opposition critics say the number of patients stuck in hospitals while they wait for a less expensive bed in the community is costing the health-care system tens of millions of dollars each year. Information obtained by the opposition shows that on any given day the past few years, there are more than 800 people occupying hospital beds that are four times more costly than those in continuing care.