Alberta sales tax would trigger compensation

The Alberta Premier Jim Prentice has not ruled out using sales tax as a way to plug the gap from falling oil revenues in the province.

The Alberta Premier Jim Prentice has not ruled out using sales tax as a way to plug the gap from falling oil revenues in the province. Speaking to reporters federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver didn’t comment on the issue directly saying it was a matter for the provincial government. However he did say that there would be compensation for the province if the administration chose to hand over control of sales tax to Ottawa. This has already been the case in other provinces although there is no guarantee that this would be handed down to taxpayers to offset the increase. Oliver said that his government are committed to lower taxes and will not be raising them despite falling oil revenues.