Premier Jason Kenney and Finance Minister Travis Toews with members of Alberta’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta’s Finances. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By The Canadian Press

Blue Ribbon Panel

NDP claim new panel will be used as scapegoat to justify cuts

May 7, 2019 | 6:00 PM

EDMONTON – The Alberta New Democrats are accusing the premier of creating a panel of experts to review the province’s finances to pass the buck for future government cuts.

Jason Kenney announced today that the panel’s advice will help the government balance the budget, without raising taxes, by 2022.

Deron Bilous, member of the legislature for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, says there is no way Kenney’s government can balance the budget by then while cutting corporate taxes and without slashing public services.

He says the NDP is concerned that Kenney will use the panel to justify cuts that he suspects are coming soon.

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Janice MacKinnon, a former NDP finance minister from Saskatchewan, is heading the panel of experts that will come up with a plan by August 15th to get Alberta out of deficit.

The group’s recommendations will also help make up the budget in the fall.

Kenney’s United Conservatives defeated Rachel Notley’s NDP in last month’s provincial election.