Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley has defended her party’s proposal to increase corporate taxes, saying it would provide a “stable, thoughtful” economic plan for the province.
Notley was responding to a question about whether the United Conservative Party was a safer economic choice for Albertans in Monday’s provincial election.
She says two of the most important aspects of a strong economy are stability and predictability.
Notley, who was speaking to reporters in Calgary, says Danielle Smith’s leadership is neither stable nor predictable.
She said Smith’s sovereignty act has hurt investor confidence.
Notley added that a recent report from the ethics commissioner showing Smith broke conflict-of-interest rules doesn’t help matters.
“That’s the foundation of economic growth,” she said Wednesday. “I am also, however, very proud of the economic plan that we have rolled out.
“We have a plan to take Alberta from having the lowest corporate taxes in the country to having the lowest corporate taxes in the country.
“By doing that, we will have the resources necessary to invest in other things that investors are telling us they need to see.”
She said that includes incentives for emerging economic sectors, a cut to the small business tax and more investment in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.