Alberta NDP promise to cancel hike in mortgage tax, land title fees

EDMONTON – Alberta’s NDP leader says she will cancel a hike in the province’s mortgage tax if elected premier.

Rachel Notley says an NDP government would also kill an increase in fees for land titles.

Notley says the change is an unacceptable hurdle for home buyers already worried about their jobs.

READ MORE: Alberta Budget 2015: Government boosts taxes but still runs record deficit 

The Progressive Conservatives bumped up the costs to $6 from $1 for every $5,000 of property value in its recent budget. The change is to begin July 1.

Premier Jim Prentice has called an election for May 5, a year earlier than required by law, saying he needs the endorsement of voters to implement his financial plan.