Premier Danielle Smith launched the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) election campaign on Monday with a promise to provide tax relief to all Albertans.

Smith said a UCP government would offer a slew of tax saving initiatives to Albertans, including a new tax bracket for those earning $60,000 or less. 

“This permanent, billion dollar tax cut will provide meaningful timely tax relief to Albertans when they need it most,” Smith said. 

The new bracket would cut taxes for those Albertans earning less than $60,000 by twenty percent, while saving $760 for those who earn more than $60,000 — and up to $1,500 in savings per family. 

Smith added: “We will continue to index all tax brackets to keep up with inflation which will better shield Albertans from the cost of the federal NDP-Liberal coalition’s spiraling debt and carbon tax.”

Smith further said that the fuel tax holiday was also extended until the end of the year, saving Albertans around $10 per fill-up at the pump. 

Additionally, Smith promised to expand the Taxpayer Protection Act “to ensure that no future government can increase personal or business taxes without first getting approval from Albertans in a referendum.”

The New Democrat Party (NDP) leader Rachel Notley, meanwhile, launched her campaign just hours later. While Notley said the NDP tax plan will be rolled out in the coming days, she added “there will be no tax increases on any Albertans under an NDP government for the next four years.” 

Notley said she worries that the “so-called surplus” is disappearing under the UCP and the province needs more money to be put towards health care. 

Notley was also asked about her stance on the Calgary arena deal reached in principle by Smith, and again refused to support it.

Notley said she looks forward to debating Smith. 

The 31st provincial election takes place May 29.