[SebC]

Originally Posted by SebC

Just because you pay into a pool and money and money from that pool pays for something does not mean you have paid for it. You have to look at net effects. If you take more out of the pool than you put in, you're not really subsidizing anything, are you? But you are getting subsidized.

So what if Calgary received federal and provincial dollars? We pay federal and provincial taxes. And since we're one of the richest jurisdictions in Alberta and Canada, and since we're not swing voters, I would wager that we contribute more to those governments than we ever get back. We are subsidizing, not subsidized.

It's absurd to say you're subsidizing Calgary, when even more money is flowing out of Calgary to subsidize you. The only thing that makes sense is to look at NET subsidies, which are almost certainly in your favor.

And just like that...

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber.../15899011.html

Calgary has been over-contributing to the provincial and federal governments for the past two decades, according to a study being presented to a city committee Thursday.

The study found “a large amount of tax payments went to the federal and provincial governments, leaving less than adequate funding for the municipal government to invest in local infrastructure.”

In short, the city has paid more to the other two levels of government than it receives in services.