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Alberta Unveiling New Budget, Including Health Levy And 10-year Financial Plan

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Mar, 2015 11:41 AM

    EDMONTON — Premier Jim Prentice will unveil Alberta's budget today, which will include a new health-care levy and a 10-year plan to get the province off the roller-coaster of oil prices.

    Prentice says the budget will balance saving, spending, and raising money so that energy royalties can be put into savings and used against the debt by 2019.

    He has said the recent collapse in oil prices will cost the treasury $7 billion this year alone.

    The budget will include a new fee to pay for health care.

    Prentice hasn't given out details on the new levy, but says it will be on a progressive-pay model rather than a flat rate.

    Opposition members say Prentice plans to punish Alberta families to cover off billions of dollars lost in years past through government mismanagement.

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