[redforever]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Keep equalization. It's part of what makes Canada, Canada.

However make Quebec freaking recognize their hydro producation at market rates instead of the subsidized rates they sell to Quebecer's at. What a scam.

Manitoba does the same thing. Here is a good article to read.

"Are you a province that doesn't want to develop its resources? "

http://business.financialpost.com/op...t-just-for-you

And another article, "Artificially cheap hydro power, your equalization dollars at work"

Inflating the public sector: Equalization has allowed recipient jurisdictions to create disproportionately larger public sectors because someone else is paying the bill. Manitoba’s public sector, for instance, employs 103 people per 1,000 residents, compared to a Canadian average of 84.

Politicizing spending. The external funding from equalization has allowed local politicians to build up vote-buying infrastructure with little political cost, by disconnecting taxation from benefit. Quebec’s $7-a-day daycare, and university tuition at less than half the Canadian average, would be unworkable without $7.4-billion in annual equalization subsidies from the rest of Canada.

Artificially inexpensive hydro power. By excluding the true value of renewable hydro energy revenues from the calculation of revenue capacity, the equalization formula rewards Manitoba and Quebec for charging artificially low domestic electricity prices. Below-market prices, in turn, encourage consumers to use more resources that otherwise would be conserved in response to accurate price signals.

http://nationalpost.com/opinion/pete...ollars-at-work