Smith announces affordability measures including cheques, tax holiday, utility rebates

Alberta's premier is dipping into the province's surplus to help people struggling with the rising cost of living with rebates, tax breaks and cheques bound for families, seniors and people with disabilities. Danielle Smith made the announcement Tuesday in a nine-minute, pre-recorded address broadcast on 6 p.m. newscasts. She did not take questions from journalists and did not say how much the new initiatives will cost the provincial treasury. Smith began her remarks by blaming the Liberal gover