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Originally Posted by MarchHare
Thanks for that link. I don't have time to read it thoroughly in its entirety at the moment (so apologies in advance if some of this is off-base), but from the executive summary, the Wildrose Party is estimating they could implement the following savings:
I won't comment on each of these items individually, but that last recommendation, "Negotiate a better equalization deal" is simply laughable. Are they so ill-informed that they don't even understand how the equalization program works? The Government of Alberta doesn't pay a cent for equalization; it's a federal program funded with federal tax dollars. Even if Harper's Conservatives completely eliminated the equalization program tomorrow, it wouldn't result in any savings at all for the provincial government. Or are they suggesting that under Wildrose leadership Alberta would somehow become a recipient of federal equalization dollars, thus increasing the province's revenue?
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I am not defending the vagueness of the budget, but every party has similar vague term budgets until they table a full and complete budget.
Regarding the better negotiated equalization deal. I believe what they were going for was to negotiate the federal transfers for programs such as health care move more towards a per capita funding situation. The federal conservatives made a change towards this in this year's budget, which will result in the province of Alberta receiving more money. I will agree, it is a horrible display communication.