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Originally Posted by edslunch
Another year, another shortfall in education funding, larger class sizes, etc. despite promises of stable funding. Is that how we want to prepare for the future?
Some will argue we have an expenditure problem and there's merit to that. But it's only half the problem. We also have a revenue problem that's directly tied to our reliance on resource revenues and our tax regime. It's great that in boom years we're awash with cash but it hurts us during the lean.
Alberta is a wealthy province and has a high proportion of well-paid citizens (not just on CP). Why not implement a more sensible tax system that provides more stable funding and allows us to build up petro-reserves. Suppose we introduced a sales tax or made income tax more progressive to collect more revenues through taxation. Stop spending resource revenues - put 100% in the Heritage fund. Over time as the fund generates more investment income use a portion to reduce tax levels.
I don't know what level of taxation is required to make this work but I'm guessing this is feasible. Probably political suicide too but someone could make the noble case for this.
Status quo is lurching from one extreme to the other which also ought to be political suicide except for the apathy of the electorate.
It comes down to what kind of Alberta we want. I, and many people I know, would be quite happy to pay a bit more if it results in better services. And yes, "better" should also include "efficient"
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This was the Liberal platform in the last provincial election and it wasn't quite political suicide, but people vote with their wallets.