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Old 03-08-2013, 11:53 AM   #173
MarchHare
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It's ultimately a moral issue and the onus to establish why it is that we ought to be sending money to Quebec is on the proponents of the system.
You're phrasing the question incorrectly. When debating equalization, the question shouldn't be "Should the federal government transfer money to Quebec?", it should be, "should the federal government transfer money to the less wealthy provinces to pay for the world-class health and education programs Canadians expect?"

It's easy for Albertans to bash equalization when the question is framed such that the hard-working citizens of this province are losing out on money that is rightfully theirs to ungrateful, lazy, language-policing Quebeckers. That same argument doesn't work when you debate the merits of equalization payments to non-Quebec provinces, though.

Also, keep in mind that every province (including Alberta) has been a recipient of equalization payments at one time or another. Historically, Ontario had been the only province that had never received equalization, but their fortunes changed a few years ago.
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