2015 Alberta Budget Discussion

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

There are cases in which someone comes in with something minor, but it is moreoften the exception than the rule. Most people don't have the urge to sit in a waiting room for hours, to go back to a bed for hours, to see a doctor for minutes to get told to go home and not put things all the way up there anymore

I wouldn't be so sure about that, but I digress.

[CliffFletcher]

Emergency doctors will tell you they do see patients who they call 'frequent flyers.' People who they see at least monthly. They are sometimes hypochondriacs, but more often they're lonely old people. They may be small in absolute numbers, but if on any given night at an emergency room there are even two or three such people, that is a significant diversion of scarce attention and space.

I don't know what the solution is. Maybe everyone gets two annual visits free, and on the third and subsequent visits they're charged $20.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Emergency doctors will tell you they do see patients who they call 'frequent flyers.' People who they see at least monthly. They are sometimes hypochondriacs, but more often they're lonely old people. They may be small in absolute numbers, but if on any given night at an emergency room there are even two or three such people, that is a significant diversion of scarce attention and space.

I don't know what the solution is. Maybe everyone gets two annual visits free, and on the third and subsequent visits they're charged $20.

Or even more frequently, drug seekers.

Tooth pain, abdominal pain and back pain are common as there's no conclusive way to determine pain level except along the patient

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Emergency doctors will tell you they do see patients who they call 'frequent flyers.' People who they see at least monthly. They are sometimes hypochondriacs, but more often they're lonely old people. They may be small in absolute numbers, but if on any given night at an emergency room there are even two or three such people, that is a significant diversion of scarce attention and space.

I don't know what the solution is. Maybe everyone gets two annual visits free, and on the third and subsequent visits they're charged $20.

The solution is to offer people the option of paying a fee to see a doctor with no wait list, while allowing anyone else to access public clinics.

Works in every country in Europe. Too 'American' for Canada.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by gasman

That is a good point, but at some point even the money spent on Vegas, Golfing, "BD" and Car rentals are going back into the economy. Does Teatro stay open if they are empty 3 nights a week?

There are plenty of examples of companies that sit on cash, Apple being probably the best know example, their business model seems to work...

Personally, as an owner of a small business, lower corporate taxes mean I either pocket more money in the form of dividends (which get taxed at both the corporate and personal level) or I spend more on "expenses" most of which end up going to local business.

I fully understand this as the owner of a small business myself. I can't speak for others, but I can say that most of my write-offs for "CE credit hours" are spent in other countries, paid for by the operating company. My holding company doesn't have to pay tax on these expenses because it never makes it there as income. I'm perfectly ok not getting my post-tax divies when vacay is paid for by my pre-tax dollars.

Believe me, it hurts me too to raise corporate taxes. I don't want to see it, but I also wouldn't be too offended if it happened.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

If you have to decide between paying health care premiums and playoff tickets, it is likely for the best that you don't buy playoff tickets, because you obviously can't afford them.

Full marks for missing the point, MMM. Before the budget, there was no question that I could afford the tickets. After the budget because I have to pay more for health-care, I do have to think twice about it. Get it? I guarantee I'm not the only one who has to reconsider luxuries in light of what was announced.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

Bottom Line on the budget:

I had the chance to buy playoff tickets, now I have health care premiums instead. You know who doesn't have to think twice about playoff tickets? Corporate season ticket holders. They took zero hits. Disgusting.

that assumes the corporations are not stepping in to pay the health care premiums for each employee.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

that assumes the corporations are not stepping in to pay the health care premiums for each employee.

Your reply seems to assume that they will. It would be tantamount to issuing every employee a raise in the middle of an economic downturn. I don't think that's likely.

[killer_carlson]

I think some will, some won't. But once a few do it, the ball will start rolling on that front.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

Full marks for missing the point, MMM. Before the budget, there was no question that I could afford the tickets. After the budget because I have to pay more for health-care, I do have to think twice about it. Get it? I guarantee I'm not the only one who has to reconsider luxuries in light of what was announced.

Full marks for dramatizing your situation. If your budget was so razor thin, that the ~$200 we're looking at for health care fees is going to kybosh a few thousand dollar purchase, then you couldn't afford it. That's an unexpected vet fee, or a brain dead red light ticket that'll also ruin your season ticket plans. What if your car blows a tire on some random road shrapnel? No more season tickets? lol

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Full marks for dramatizing your situation. If your budget was so razor thin, that the ~$200 we're looking at for health care fees is going to kybosh a few thousand dollar purchase, then you couldn't afford it. That's an unexpected vet fee, or a brain dead red light ticket that'll also ruin your season ticket plans. What if your car blows a tire on some random road shrapnel? No more season tickets? lol

It's not a dramatization. Anyone else here remember what happens when oil tanks and jobs dry up? The luxuries go first. It is done, so that when the tire blows, the furnace fails, etc. there is cash on hand to tend to necessities. Find someone who's been laid off and ask how they feel about buying season tickets right now.

I am surprised by the shortsightedness here.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

It's not a dramatization. Anyone else here remember what happens when oil tanks and jobs dry up? The luxuries go first. It is done, so that when the tire blows, the furnace fails, etc. there is cash on hand to tend to necessities. Find someone who's been laid off and ask how they feel about buying season tickets right now.

I am surprised by the shortsightedness here.

Welcome to the responsibilities of life.

You still have it cheaper here than anywhere else in Canada.

edit: And by the looks of it by tonights result, there probably won't be play-off tickets to buy. So win-win?

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

It's not a dramatization. Anyone else here remember what happens when oil tanks and jobs dry up? The luxuries go first. It is done, so that when the tire blows, the furnace fails, etc. there is cash on hand to tend to necessities. Find someone who's been laid off and ask how they feel about buying season tickets right now.

I am surprised by the shortsightedness here.

What's shortsighted is buying season tickets when $200 is a meaningful amount of money to you. Why don't you just admit that you over-estimated how much the actual tax hike is and move on?

I have been told that it will be impossible for companies to pay for the health levy because it is simply an additional line on your tax bill next year. There is no bill to pay or anyone to send a cheque to.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Slava

But the bank on TV told me that I'm richer than I think?!

They lied.

I've always found those commercials hilariously disingenuous.

[dino7c]

most people are much poorer than they think

[Slava]

Originally Posted by chemgear

They lied.

I've always found those commercials hilariously disingenuous.

My favorite is where they just rearrange a few things and suddenly the people can afford a mortgage they thought they couldn't. I'm sure that kind of scenario ends well in every case.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

Full marks for missing the point, MMM. Before the budget, there was no question that I could afford the tickets. After the budget because I have to pay more for health-care, I do have to think twice about it. Get it? I guarantee I'm not the only one who has to reconsider luxuries in light of what was announced.

Life isn't always fair and never will be. We can cry and moan about what we can't afford or we can be gratefull for what we have. There's lots of things I can't afford and getting into I wish I had money for this never ends well.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Originally Posted by pylon

1) Welcome to the responsibilities of life.

2) You still have it cheaper here than anywhere else in Canada.

3) edit: And by the looks of it by tonights result, there probably won't be play-off tickets to buy. So win-win?

1) Quite well acquainted with them already. Hence the planning ahead.

2) In terms of taxes or actual cost of living? Taxes are low, cost of living is high.

3) This is only a win for L.A.

[Harry Lime]

The last tangent kind of moved away from the budget. Considering the arrogance of producing a budget before an election, rampant with voter tax hikes, I thought that it might deserve the odd bump here and there.

"CIBC chief economist Benjamin Tal argues there has been a structural shift in the economy over the past two decades that means higher profit margins are here to stay."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/corp...here-1.3016324

This couldn't be news to provincial economists, so they simply turned a blind eye to the majority of corporate interests being able to absorb an increase of 1%, and still come out ahead of last years earnings. Oil and gas is boom/bust, but to ignore all other corporate entities is irresponsible.

For anyone who is curious as to what a healthy Heritage Fund could return, with the interest put into play as usable provincial income. Perhaps we wouldn't have to have the Conservatives tax us so heavily.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/ontar...4-5b-1.2305768

We can argue about the minutiae as much as we want, but the bottom line is that this is a province that is badly run financially. The latest budget simply reinforces that.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by pylon

Welcome to the responsibilities of life.

You still have it cheaper here than anywhere else in Canada.

edit: And by the looks of it by tonights result, there probably won't be play-off tickets to buy. So win-win?

Take your last comment back