Redford's Tax

Earlier this week, Alberta Premier Alison Redford announced that she was contemplating a "sin" tax hike on booze and tobacco sales. While seen as an instant cash grab by most Albertans, Redford announced that the proposed tax hike was an effort by the Alberta Government to promote health and fitness in the Wild Rose Province.

“Albertans are really sensible. They want to be healthy, they want to be safe and they want government to take some leadership and say: ‘You know what, we’re going to make some choices and these choices are going to be conducive to building a safer and a healthier community where we’re able to make sure we have good programs in place and everyone in society can thrive".

Albertans know better. In 2010 the Alberta Government cut sport funding to the Health and Wellness agency, The Alberta Sport Recreation Parks and Wellness Foundation (ASRPWF) by 15%. Under Redford's new tax proposal there is no mention of restoring funding to the ASRPWF to pre-2010 levels. If the Redford government was truly serious about Health a proposed tax hike would be accompanied by a statement regarding increased funding to health and wellness. Unfortunately, once again Redford's comment was just an another example as to how government uses sport for its own self serving interests like tax hikes.

Alberta is not alone. In 2011 the Ontario Government released a comprehensive document detailing as to how the Province of Ontario would eliminate tobacco consumption and in turn make Ontario the healthiest province in the country. What was lost was not one new $ in sport funding accompanied the statement. Presently the Ontario government provides a $50 tax credit for fitness related costs to residents of Canada's most populous province. Wouldn't it be nice if the Ontario government was truly serious about the health and welfare of its citizens by offering a $1,500 tax credit and increased funding to school programs. Heatstroke thinks so.

Redford are you listening.