The United Conservatives have begun to form their identity after coming together for their party''s first policy meeting, which many called the largest political convention in Alberta''s history.
Among the party''s focus were several policies that supported private health care in the province, including one supporting two-tier American style health care. The same policy, which was supported by three-quarters of convention delegates, also states that Albertans should have the choice to pay for privately funded and privately delivered health services.
"This would erode health care. A policy like this means that all of us who can''t afford to pay more wouldn''t have a choice but to be shoved to the back of the line, and that is a scary scenario," said AUPE Vice-President Bonnie Gostola. "We have to do everything we can to protect public health care and stop any political party from sending public money to private care."
Convention delegates also spent time debating taxes, adopting a pledge to return to a provincial flat personal tax, which means most Albertans would pay the same tax rate regardless of their income. More than 60 per cent of delegates also voted to adopt a policy reducing the corporate tax rate. Both moves would take a big bite out of provincial revenues - up to $1.5 billion annually, according to AUPE research - meaning they''d likely correspond with major spending cuts.
United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney has stated he would be willing to cut two per cent from Alberta''s budget every year, which would be at least $1.2 billion less in the public purse.
"Any way you slice it, the effects of a $1.2-billion cut plus $1.5 billion in lost revenue would be staggering," Gostola said. "Working families right across the province would feel a real impact from a cut of that size."
Dozens of other policies were passed during the May convention. It''s expected the majority will be included in the party''s election platform during the 2019 election.