Kenney says Alberta will hold referendum on equalization in 2021

[Hamloc]

Unfortunately the average Albertan doesn’t realize that on a per capita basis our government is among the highest spenders in Canada and has among the lowest rates of taxation. While there is no doubt that Albertan’s have payed since the 1960’s close to $600 billion more in federal taxes than they have received in federal programming it is difficult to see how the federal government would agree to significantly alter what Alberta receives. As pointed out when Stephen Harper was Prime Minister it was politically impossible to make significant changes. It is also obvious that Alberta’s lower tax rates are one factor that attracts young people to Alberta to work and live. A referendum on equalization is a waste of time in my opinion, one on separation makes more sense but is not winnable in my opinion. It is possible the referendum on equalization is a stepping stone in that direction.

[chuckChuck]

Separation is not going to happen. Alberta needs canada and canada needs alberta.

[sumdumguy]

Alberta’s referendum is like a chihuahua chasing a Greyhound bus-just yipping at the big tires. The big tires are in the east and they don’t give a hoot.

[flea beetle]

Separation is not going to happen. Alberta needs canada and canada needs alberta.

Well Half of your last sentence is true....the last half.

[dmlfarmer]

Separation is not going to happen. Alberta needs canada and canada needs alberta.

Even UCP needs Canada seeing as they are the only Alberta political party that is using CERB funding from Ottawa to keep their overpaid political staffers on the payroll during Covid.

[ajl]

lol this is just too funny! Kenney is planning on spending money on a non binding provincial referendum of the current federal equalization program which was last renegotiated when he was a federal cabinet minister. I doubt there is a single Alberta who will not vote that the program Kenney was part of creating is screwed up yet and Kenney needs a vote to find that out?

And to listen to the law an order Cons on this forum attack the defund police movement in the US at the same time calling for defunding the RCMP in Alberta. They must not like that the feds pay 1/3 of the cost of policing in Alberta and would sooner Alberta businesses and residents pay an additional 120 million more a year for policing that the feds currently subsidize. Not including the costs of creating the needed training facilities and the costs of instructing an APP force.

Seriously sheeple, do any of you think?

You do need to ask yourself that from time to time. Where do you think the 120 million comes from. Oh yeah tax dollars that originate here in AB. AB needs a police force that removes rail blockades regardless of what race is holding them. Chuck point that canuckistan needs AB is true, but in what way does AB need the rest of canuckistan? AB pays the bills in canuckistan. If you say port access, well once we are sovereign, we can have BC on its knees pretty quick so that will be good for some port access. Besides most exports go to the US anyways so that will be enhanced once we are sovereign with closer ties to the US.

[blackpowder]

Chuck isn't wrong all together.
Money just gets spent. It's a spending issue as well as a income issue. Spent to stay in office. People want free stuff.
Some of the recommendations are federal jurisdiction anyway.
But if the political equity exists.
Then freeing up intra provincial trade is a great goal. Enabling the flow of goods. Pipelines, whatever.
And that also touches on a deeper question. Artificially maintaining populations regionally or allowing economic incentives or lifestyle choices to drive the flow of people.
Too much equalization creates pockets of welfare zones to maintain a culture.
In effect, eventually a culture of welfare.
More money in AB, more people move here. Ask NFL. Don't ask QC.
Most of the recommendations won't get touched anyway. Too scary and complicated for the sheeple used to a diet of socialist talking points.

[GDR]

Not sure you guys are on the right track with APP acronym. That's not policing, its Alberta Pension plan. Not much chatter or support for provincial police but lots in regards to our own pension. Could be quite beneficial for AB and quite detrimental for Canada.

[GDR]

To say AB has lower taxes I'm not sure how fair that is. Maybe by percentage but overall tax dollars paid by individuals must be higher.

[GALAXIE500]

Separation is not going to happen. Alberta needs canada and canada needs alberta.

Here's a question . Have you noticed how the Liberal Government has taken a big crap all over Western Canada in the last five years????? Since when does any province in Western Canada Need the east ? They don't ( the government anyways) and haven't for well over a century and change. We are looked at out here as the " inconvenient revenue generator" that the Laurentian elites wish they had back east. We are given the scaps off the table , and the asshole we got at the prime ministers office and his evil little friend Gerald are sharpening the final nails to put in the coffin.

If you haven't noticed that then you are truly blind as a bat!