Equalization payments

[cakadu]

Cowman, I have no doubt that our MP will win in a big way, but my vote won't be counted in that victory. Never has and never will.

Shouldn't we be looking at who will do the best job for the country as a whole and NOT for individual areas, provinces or culture? Would it be right to tip the balance of power in favor of the West?

The exploitation of our natural resources is a double edged sword isn't it? If we didn't go bringing it out of the ground at the rate that we do, we wouldn't be paying so much in royalties and transfer payments to the feds would we? I'm sure that Sask, as an example, does not send anywhere near the money that we do.

In Alberta, we should start taking a really hard look at what we are doing. We have spent a great deal of time, money and resources on bringing down the debt and for what purpose? We are sacrificing our so-called Alberta advantage and pristine areas all in the name of bringing up non-renewable energy. We have witnessed services being cut i.e. the deplorable state that our seniors find themselves in - (yet in honor or our 100th birthday anyone over 100 gets a medal) - departments such as fish and game have seen their resources dwindled to the point that they cannot adequately do their jobs and the list goes on.

But it's all okay because we are debt-free, right?

[ivbinconned]

Right!

And oh, by the way, saskatchewan doesn't send money out of the province (with the exception of debt service)...we send our kids!

[ivbinconned]

cakado, I have posted in a new thread an artical by Mark Steyn just for you...be sure to read it.

[ivbinconned]

ivbinconned, I know of a few Alberta folks that have sold their property here and moved to Sask., so it isn't all a one way exodus.

[cowman]

Linda: I'm not really into biting the hand that feeds me and I will admit oil and gas have been very good to me....and I might add to everybody who lives in Alberta? I don't believe our provincial government has handled the whole thing very well and have squandered the money shamelessly! You should remember that before we started our "Tory dynasty" we were debt free? And the government before that was truly "conservative" instead of a bunch of liberals wrapped in blue!
The present Klein government has become a very spendthrift bunch...no doubt about it! And yea they have pretty well abdicated all responsibility as far as policing a lot of areas.
As far as an MP doing what is right for the whole country: I want my MP to represent my interests. Not the interests of Quebec or Ontario or the country as a whole! And right now I see the Conservatives as about the only party that represents any part of my interests? Hopefully smaller government, free and fair enterprize, a more fair and better deal for the west? I don't want Kyoto, I don't want more rules and regulations, I don't want more tax and spend policies, I don't want to alienate the USA any further!
I personally couldn't care if gays want to get married to the government or not, but I don't think the government should spit on the people who have strong religious beliefs about that?
Obviously I am a western seperatist, but that doesn't mean I am anti-Canadian! I believe the best thing that could happen, for all Canadians, is the break up of this country! Then we can maybe have a relationship based on us acting toward each other as equals?

[cowman]

Emerald: The feds send us a fuel rebate of $450 million. Very nice but how much did we send them in the first place? I believe a couple of years ago it was $700 million a year? So what happened to the other $250 million?...well at least they sent us something, right?
If government(both federally and provincially) would spend the road tax on the darned roads, we might not have all these crumbling infrastructure problems?
In my opinion(and I realize I am definitely not in tune with the majority of Canadians)governments first priority should be to keep up the infrastructure to insure commerce can prosper! Without commerce a country has nothing!
Let people take care of their own health, education, social safety net! The government should not be involved in these things.
Instead, today, we have a government who spends the biggest part of the money on things that do nothing to promote commerce? Instead of roads we get endless drivel about gay marriage and legalizing dope? Why you would think that those subjects are about the most important things in the world!
We live in the "nanny state" where we need the government to tell us everything. How to act, what to believe in, how to tie our shoes! Is this healthy? What ever happened to the concept that we are free individuals who can decide for ourselves how we should live and accept the consequences of our decisions?

[cowman]

cowman, I agree that all levels of government need to give infrastructure a higher priority, unfortunatly the municipal governments seem to be carrying a lot of the burden, which of course is on the back of the local tax base.
Where I don't agree with your comments is in the area of health care. The average citizen could not pay all the costs of their own health care if they had anything more than a common cold. I know that we used to pay all costs but not too many years ago a diagnosis of cancer was usually a death sentence. We know that the advances in research and technology in medicine saves many lives, and routine testing costs vast sums. If the government was not involved in the delivery of health care, only the rich would be able to afford it, and I cannot agree with that. There is abuse of the health care system, and in my opinion the Health Regions are top heavy in administration, something which our Provincial government needs to address. The recent Long Term Care review certainly pointed out loud and clearly just how poorly the Health Regions are delivering health care to our most fragile citizens, but you can bet that there aren't many families that are equipped to or want to care for their elderly family member at home, so government funded facilities are a necessity.

[ivbinconned]

emerald, I never suggested that it was only one way...some move here but more leave thus we have no population growth.

I moved here from Alberta 32 years ago because land was cheaper here...it still is! In fact I am having to except the same price now, for land that I have held for 25 years and made great improvments on.

Yes I know personaly other Albertans who have bought land here (because it looked so cheap) but in just a few years are wanting to get back out.

The Saskatchewan unoffical slogan "Born Free, Taxed To Death"

[cakadu]

Cowman, again the infrastructure problem is a double-edged sword. If we didn't have all of this heavy equipment on the roads, they wouldn't need as much repair. I realize that the roads built 20 and 30 years ago were not made to withstand the kind of equipment that we have now - agricultural and commercial.

The county we live in is a prime example. They tell us it is great that we have 4.5 million coming in revenue this year because of increased drilling activity. They are going to be spending more money on repairing infrastructure (believe it when I see it) and maintaining things, so are we any further ahead? Our taxes have gone up as well, does that bode well for the ratepayer? Never once have I been consulted by the county as to whether or not I am in agreement with this increased drilling. It is appalling to see how many rigs there are within a 5 mile radius of our farm. How does all the noise and disruption, not to mention potential for leaving a footprint benefit me as a resident of the county? My roads get pounded out and not fixed for weeks or even months, so what am I gaining? The paved road one road over does not get used, yet my gravel roads do. And don't even get me started on why these truck drivers have to use their jake brakes on a perfectly flat road.

As far as my MP representing my interests goes, I agree with you there as well in principle. My feeling is that the MP does not represent my interests and if you look at his ramblings over the last year or so, he has done an about face on Kyoto and a few other things. I really do question whose interests some of these people really serve.

We are going so fast down this road to gaining all that we can from the non-renewable resources that by the time they run out, how much irreparable damage will we have done? How many care about that, or is it all give me what I can get today and the devil about tomorrow?

[cakadu]

Linda, the pressure on infrastructure in this province is second to none. The Alberta Advantage costs a lot of money to all levels of government. Many municipalities have applied for resource road funding for roads that are utilized mainly for moving resources through a municipality or within their boundaries, but there is still a burden on the local taxbase.

In areas where there isn't significant industry use, roads can be paved to a lesser standard, but areas with a lot of heavy industry traffic have to build to a much higher standard, and even then have to budget for overlays on paved roads or they will end up not having the monies to repair roads as they deteriorate.

[cakadu]

So then how long does it remain an advantage then?

[cakadu]

Linda, it depends on how you look at it, the glass is half full or half empty.
Our province is debt free, which is a enviable position to be in.
Resources are responsible for the debt free status.
Alberta is the province of choice for folks from other regions of Canada who cannot find jobs at home, they are able to move here and make a good living for their family.
We who live in resource rich areas certainly pay the price, heavy traffic on roads, air quality questionable at times etc.
If all resource activities must be done with protection of the environment and the health of Albertans in mind, then having these industries is truly an advantage.