Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
That's not at all how equalization works. When I lived in New Brunswick in the 90s, the province was running a balanced budget (after some pretty harsh service cut-backs) yet still received equalization payments. Without equalization, the NB government wouldn't be able to provide its citizens with similar quality healthcare and education and infrastructure as the richer provinces. Transfer payments have absolutely nothing to do with the fiscal responsibility (or lack thereof) of the various provincial governments or the "laziness" of the population as perceived by Albertans.
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Except because of equalization Quebec is providing higher end government subsidized healthcare, education and infrastructure then the provinces that are paying into the pot because Quebec for example runs itself into a hole budget wise. As I pointed out before in the last 4 years Quebec's share of the equalization payments have increased by 74%, and that one province gets more then half of the total equalization point. Thats not only unfair but its irresponsible of Quebec to not address their ongoing deficit budget.
Quebec shouldn't be a have not province, they have resources, they have hydro, they have a large industrial base, and a decent sized population base, they're almost a have not province because they have no motivation to not be.
Alberta is running a 5 billion dollar deficit this year, I don't get why we should be paying into the pot.