Fixing equalization will not be easy, but there are other options, say experts

[TOM4CWB]

SO? they need to get a job? Or a 2nd job like lots of people here..

For many Alberta families... Federal tax is the biggest single cost they must pay... progressive tax rates increase tax payable. Work harder... and take home less is the federal scam. It is bankrupting Alberta families... and Alberta small business... who have a heart ... and want their workers to survive. What a tread mill. Extraction by feds at a whole different level... here in Alberta. This is frankly depressing... and destroying young families.

[sumdumguy]

A fellow I used to work with came from Quebec and he said he was paid under the table.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Chuck, so all this time you've been defending equalization, and telling us what an effective system it is when us taxpayers tell you how it is broken.

Now that your CBC claims it is broken, suddenly you agree that it is broken and needs to be fixed?

It sure is a good thing that we have the CBC to tell you what your opinion is.


And while the article makes it sound like the solution is so complicated, it is anything but.

The solution is that the largest net contributors will exit confederation, the remaining Socialists will discover that equalization isn't as much fun when it involves equalizing poverty and debt as opposed to someone else's hard earned tax dollars.

[blackpowder]

Exactly Sum, the higher the taxes, the larger the underground economy.

[chuckChuck]

Chuck, so all this time you've been defending equalization, and telling us what an effective system it is when us taxpayers tell you how it is broken.

Now that your CBC claims it is broken, suddenly you agree that it is broken and needs to be fixed?

It sure is a good thing that we have the CBC to tell you what your opinion is.


And while the article makes it sound like the solution is so complicated, it is anything but.

The solution is that the largest net contributors will exit confederation, the remaining Socialists will discover that equalization isn't as much fun when it involves equalizing poverty and debt as opposed to someone else's hard earned tax dollars.

By the way the points in the article are from economists at the U of C and U of Ottawa not the CBC.

Which taxpayers? You mean the right wing conservative ones in Alberta who elected government after government who squandered billions of dollars in potential public revenues from a one time finite resource? While Norway and Alaska built a sizable heritage fund based on their resource for a rainy day!

Norwegians and Alaskans were and are more fiscally responsible.

Good luck with your utopian vision for an independent oil state because it is a dream. Once the Conservatives are reelected suddenly it will be less desirable. The wexiteers will run against the Conservatives splitting the vote. That sounds like a way to win power again!

[Guest]

well , another year or so of numbnuts , and that should be the end of that party for another decade or so

[westernvicki]

Daycare Quebec: 8.25 day under 200$ month
Saskatoon: 650 to 800$ month
Calgary: 1000$ month

Tuition Quebec is much lower than any other province.

Equalize these factors with a basket of goods formula.

[westernvicki]

The formula will never be fair, this is Canada.

Like the CWB when the west had the war measures act that lasted well past the war with the five year agreements. Under the mandatory CWB the west sold wheat for 1.25$ a bushel, and the east sold at values of a world short of grain. The west happy to help out, the east never obliged to.

Imagine what that wealth would have done for your forefathers?

Canada has never been fair to the west, admit it.

[jazz]

Like the CWB when the west had the war measures act that lasted well past the war with the five year agreements. Under the mandatory CWB the west sold wheat for 1.25$ a bushel, and the east sold at values of world short of grain. The west happy to help out, the east never obliged to.

or that time when western farmers were used to bail out Chinese and Russian famines.

[chuckChuck]

Alberta and Saskatchewan still both have higher GDP per capita than many other provinces. And higher average family incomes. And the ability to collect alot of taxes (large fiscal capacity)

Alberta has chosen to have low tax rates and low royalties that could have provided significant revenue for the heritage savings account and all kinds of programs but they chose low taxes over more stable finances. That's their choice.

The integrated oil producers in Alberta who produce upgraded and refined products are still very profitable with low prices. Probably even more so.

Yes they need more access to markets. But they also need to match supply to market capacity so that they don't lower oil prices with over production. Line 3 and Keystone XL along with TMX will solve some of those issues. Most of the market for heavy oil refining is in the US. Line 3 and Keystone XL are being held up in the US.