EDMONTON -- The Alberta government tabled its 2016-17 budget Thursday. Here are some of the winners and losers:
Winners: Small businesses. The small-business tax to be cut to two per cent from three per cent on Jan. 1.
Winners: Low-income families. The new Alberta Child Benefit to provide up to $2,750 each year to vulnerable families, including 235,000 children. There are also enhancements to the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit.
Losers: Higher-income earners. The new carbon tax will cost households making more than $100,000 a year an estimated $338 annually. That will jump to $504 next year. Anyone making more than $51,250 in net pay will not receive a rebate.
Losers: Future generations of taxpayers. Alberta debt is expected to reach $58 billion by 2019.
Losers: Parents of school children. Promised reductions in school fees have been delayed for a second time.
Winners: Municipalities. The province will continue with the second year of a $35-billion accelerated capital infrastructure plan, including money for ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary and a key traffic interchange in Red Deer.
Winners: Public-sector workers. No cuts planned in front-line services.
Winners: New workers. There is $15 million to help apprentices complete training and work experience requirements and $10 million to train those under-represented in the workforce, including women and indigenous people.
Winners: Tourism. Funding for expansion of the Calgary Zoo and Fort Edmonton Park.
