Close to 290,000 Albertans either mailed in or completed an on-line version of It’s Your Future, a survey that asked what the government’s priorities should be in a debt-free Alberta. Premier Klein and Finance Minister Patricia Nelson announced the preliminary results October 19, 2004.

Preliminary Survey Results

These links will open in a separate window:

• Health and education top priorities in It’s Your Future survey - Government survey records highest ever response rate (News Release)
• Backgrounders:
  • Mean and percentage results (pdf)
  • Verification of results (pdf)
• Full Report of Survey Results (pdf)

Background information

- News Release - Albertans still have time to respond to survey on Alberta's future (Sept. 23/04)
- News Release - Government wants to hear from your on a debt-free future (August 25/04)
- What does debt-free mean?
- What challenges and opportunities does Alberta face?
- Where your money goes

What does debt-free mean?

• We have reached our debt-free goal much sooner than expected thanks to high prices for oil and gas, the commitment of Albertans, and careful spending.
• As the debt was paid down, well over a billion dollars in interest payments were saved and reinvested in health care, education, roads and highways, and improving Alberta’s quality of life.
• Making the final payment on the debt means we’ll have another $150 million a year.
• If there is money left over at the end of future years – especially if oil and gas prices stay high – that money no longer has to go to debt payments. It can be used for new choices about Alberta’s future.

What challenges and opportunities does Alberta face?

Improving the health care system
Spending on health care has doubled over the last ten years, but people still wait too long for some essential services. Health care costs are growing faster than the province’s total income. We spend close to 40% of the province’s budget on health care. That’s more than all the money Albertans pay in personal income taxes, corporate income taxes, and health care premiums combined. How do we make sure quality health services are available and affordable?

Investing in education
About 30% of the province’s budget is spent on education. More money is being spent this year to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes. More spaces are being opened up at universities, colleges, technical institutes, and in apprenticeship programs. But the future of Alberta’s economy depends on having one of the best educated and highly skilled workforces in the world. What more needs to be done to make sure Alberta has an outstanding, leading edge education system?

Maintaining strong communities
Many cities are bursting at the seams while some smaller communities, especially in rural Alberta, face an uncertain future. Some communities have good facilities, adequate policing, affordable housing, vibrant arts, culture and recreation opportunities, and a good quality of life. Others have financial challenges and risk losing people to larger centres. How do we respond to growth in the cities and, at the same time, preserve rural communities and Alberta’s rural way of life?

Providing first rate infrastructure
Alberta’s new Capital Plan commits close to $7 billion to address the province’s infrastructure needs. But there still is a growing demand. What do we need most – better highways, more schools, more space at universities, colleges and technical institutes, better equipment, or new high tech hospitals?

Building an even stronger economy
For Alberta to compete in a global economy, we can’t rely only on traditional strengths like energy and agriculture. We need a more diverse economy with more emphasis on innovation and leading edge, knowledge-based industries. Is it better to keep taxes low for everyone, make sure we have highly skilled people, and promote a quality of life that’s second to none? Or do we need more targeted actions and investments, more research, and selective tax incentives?

Preserving Alberta’s environment
Using our environment wisely and preserving it for future generations is an important challenge. It includes preserving Alberta’s supply of water, maintaining high quality land, and protecting the quality of our air, lakes, rivers, parks, fish and wildlife. What are the most pressing issues to address in Alberta’s environment and what needs to be done?

Ensuring that all Albertans benefit from our province’s prosperity
All Albertans should share in the benefits and opportunities our province provides. That includes seniors, people with disabilities, children and families at risk, and people with low incomes. It includes Aboriginal people and their communities. And it includes people who are new to our province and our country. How do we make sure all Albertans get the help they need and enjoy the benefits our province has to offer?

Strengthening Alberta’s tax advantage
Albertans and Alberta businesses pay the lowest overall taxes in the country. We’re the only province with no sales tax. Low taxes benefit every Albertan and put Alberta in a strong competitive position, but taxes also pay for education, health care, infrastructure, and all the other services government provides. Should Alberta’s taxes be even lower or should we leave them as is to fund important programs?

Saving for the future
The Heritage Fund was established in 1976 so we could save some of the money from oil and gas revenues. Today, it’s worth just over $12 billion. Typically, about a billion dollars in investment income from the Heritage Fund goes into the provincial budget each year. If oil and gas prices stay high and we have windfall profits, should we put money in the Heritage Fund or use it in other ways?

Where your Money Goes