Alberta Minister Devin Dreeshen says “we would all have a lot more money in our bank accounts,” if both the United Conservative Party (UCP) and the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) get elected in the coming months.

Dreeshen answered The Counter Signal’s Editor-in-Chief Keean Bexte’s question on the carbon tax on Wednesday.

“Poilievre was actually in my riding a few weeks ago — and he committed to getting rid of the carbon tax,” Dreeshen said.

He added “We’re one of the few countries in the world that has a carbon tax.”

Dreeshen further said the carbon tax hurts more than Canadians’ bank accounts, but it also hurts international competitiveness because industries are required to pay an extra tax when exporting products to Canada.

Dreeshen also reiterated Premier Smith’s promise to offer a slew of tax saving initiatives to Albertans, including a new tax bracket for those earning $60,000 or less. 

When announcing the opening of her campaign, Premier Smith said that the fuel tax holiday would be extended until the end of the year, saving Albertans around $10 per fill-up at the pump. 

Dreeshen is skeptical of Notley’s promise of no tax increases

Meanwhile, New Democrat Party (NDP) leader Rachel Notley promised “there will be no tax increases on any Albertans under an NDP government for the next four years.” 

But Dreeshen expressed doubt this would actually be held up under an NDP government.

“They’re all about raising taxes and making life more expensive here in Alberta.”

He added “This is the same Rachel Notley and NDP who never even mentioned a carbon tax in the 2015 campaign — and then imposed a carbon tax on Albertans within their first year of government.” 

On Wednesday, the CPC confirmed with The Counter Signal that “A Conservative government would immediately axe the Trudeau carbon tax.”

The CPC’s Media Relations Director Sebastian Skamski also said “the Parliamentary Budget Officer says that households will pay more in carbon tax costs than they get back in rebates and the Bank of Canada governor has admitted that the carbon tax contributes to inflation.”