Political party policies in Alberta provincial election

Canada's largest oil-producing province, Alberta, will hold an election on April 16. Latest opinion polls show the United Conservative Party led by Jason Kenney is expected to oust Rachel Notley's New Democratic Party from government.

Below are some of the main policies of the two parties, as laid out in their platforms:

POLICY NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNITED CONSERVATIVE PARTY

PIPELINES – Continue to fight for additional – Pursue "every possible pipeline

pipeline capacity, including getting project to get oil and gas to market."

the Trans Mountain expansion built. – Enact legislation to turn off oil

– Work with Indigenous groups that and gas shipments to provinces that

are seeking to purchase equity oppose pipelines.

partnerships in pipeline projects by

linking them with investors.

CARBON PRICING – Continue to tax carbon emissions at – Repeal the carbon tax and replace & EMISSIONS C$30 a tonne and proceed with with a tax on large industrial

existing Climate Leadership Plan. facilities.

– Phase out coal generation by 2030. – Coal-fired power plants could remain

– Targeting 30 percent of electricity open indefinitely if federal law

generation from renewables by 2030. changes.

– Targeting 45 percent reduction in – 100-megatonne cap on oil sands

methane emissions by 2025. emissions to be scrapped.

– Firm cap on oil sands emissions.

OIL & GAS – Speed up and streamline regulatory – Appoint a minister for red tape REGULATION processes by implementing a one-stop reduction.

online platform for applications by – Appoint new board of directors at

2020. the Alberta Energy Regulator.

– Implementation of Alberta – Aim to have the fastest oil well

Regulatory Competitive Task Force. approval times in North America.

PRODUCTION – Will "carefully manage curtailment – In favor of the production CURTAILMENTS to prevent the price differential curtailments.

from artificially rising."

CRUDE BY RAIL – Leasing 4,400 rail cars to move up – Cancel government crude-by-rail

to 120,000 barrels per day out of contracts.

Alberta.

BILL C-69 – Calling for significant amendments – File a constitutional challenge to

to the bill, which will change how C-69 should it become law.

major projects like pipelines are

assessed.

DIVERSIFICATION – Plans to expand refining, upgrading – Will respect agreements made by the

and petrochemical production in the NDP government and open to extending

province, targeting C$75 billion in royalty tax credits.

new private investment and 70,000 new

jobs.

TAXATION – No major tax changes planned. – Cut the corporate tax rate to 8

– Aiming to balance the budget by percent rom 12 percent .

2023-24. – Aiming to balance budget by 2022-23.

EDUCATION – Plans to build and modernize 70 – Order immediate audit of class

schools across the province. sizes.

CHILDCARE – Expansion of C$25-a-day subsidized – No plans to expand program.

childcare program.

HEALTHCARE – Lower wait times in emergency rooms – Commission a review of Alberta

and for certain surgeries. Health Services

– Build an additional 2,000 long-term – Reduce surgical wait times to no

care and dementia beds. more than four months.

– Strengthen regulations governing – Launch Opioid Response Strategy.

private clinics to prevent queue – Increase earlier access to mental

jumping. health and addictions services.

– Launch a lawsuit against

manufacturers of opioid medication.

EQUALIZATION – No plans to challenge equalization – Hold a referendum on removing PAYMENTS payment formula equalization from the Canadian

constitution if there is no progress

on the construction of a coastal

pipeline or if Bill C-69 is not

repealed.

(Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Peter Cooney)