Travis Toews is positioning himself as a candidate with a fiscally accountable observe document
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The previous Alberta finance minister with United Conservative management aspirations is boasting of his function within the province’s finances surplus.
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Travis Toews spoke to reporters at a downtown Calgary restaurant Tuesday afternoon, because the Grande Prairie-Wapiti UCP MLA regarded to jumpstart his marketing campaign to steer his occasion by positioning himself as a candidate with a fiscally accountable observe document.
He touted insurance policies applied throughout his time as finance minister which he mentioned contributed to the $3.9-billion finances surplus for the 2021-22 monetary yr, together with sustaining a web debt-to-GDP ratio beneath 30 per cent and aligning per capita spending with comparable provinces.
Three months in the past, Alberta had projected a $3.4-billion deficit, however the province’s ledgers modified amid document ranges of useful resource revenues following Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine. However Toews maintained authorities coverage was key in Alberta popping out within the black.
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“Balanced budgets don’t occur accidentally. They don’t stability themselves. It takes arduous work and a dedication to sound fiscal ideas,” Toews mentioned.
“After all, (one other) a part of the piece that we’re seeing by way of reporting a surplus is energy in power costs this yr, which may be very welcome.”
Elsewhere, Toews introduced that if he gained the management, he would launch an impartial overview into the federal government’s COVID-19 response, calling its method “removed from excellent.” Fellow MLA and UCP management contender Rajan Sawhney has additionally dedicated to a COVID-19 inquiry.
“Albertans must know the place the federal government erred, the place it received issues proper, and we have to know in the end what occurred, what labored, what didn’t,” Toews mentioned.
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He additionally mentioned he submitted his candidate nomination package deal to the occasion Monday after having collected the 1,000 signatures from UCP members essential to get on the poll.
Early polling within the UCP management race suggests Toews is working in third place, behind Danielle Smith and Brian Jean.
Toews’ marketing campaign confirmed to Postmedia he has changed his marketing campaign supervisor, however mentioned this wasn’t the product of extra sluggish help than anticipated.
An Angus Reid survey from mid-June discovered amongst those that intend to vote for the UCP within the 2023 election, 25 per cent help Toews. That’s in comparison with 34 per cent and 33 per cent help for Smith and Jean, respectively.
Toews dismissed these numbers, saying it’s nonetheless early within the marketing campaign.
“I’m not listening to polls, I’m listening to Albertans,” Toews mentioned. “I’m getting round and assembly Albertans on the town halls, of their communities. I’m listening to their views and that’s what’s essential to me in the present day.”
jherring@postmedia.com
Twitter: @jasonfherring
