text: In the 2016-17 budget year, that ended March 31, the NDP racked up a deficit of $10.8 billion. That is nearly $300 million more than expected and comes despite the government having resource and investment income more than $3 billion higher than Finance Minister Joe Ceci predicted in his budget in April 2016.
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  Put  another way: The New Democrats received income last year from oil, gas and investments that was $3.3 billion higher than they and still they ran a deficit larger than planned.
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  NDP increases in personal and corporate income tax rates actually reduced the amount of tax collected. Personal income tax paid was off eight per cent and corporate taxes off nearly 15 per cent.
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  The NDP theory that if squeezing the golden goose produces more revenue, then wringing its neck will produce even more has proven to be incorrect. When taxes are raised substantially, revenues often fall off as individuals and corporations move investments elsewhere.
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  Lorne Gunter
  Edmonton Sun
  June 30/17