It's important to remember that the federal government pays out equalization payments, but they don't collect equalization payments. They aren't tabulated then the feds ask Alberta for a cheque, they aren't something it's in the power of the province to withhold either. They're given out from federal tax dollars. Equalization is just a formula used to standardize that transfer of funds. You could eliminate equalization, but still end up with the same redistribution of tax dollars (or even worse from Alberta's perspective).
Kenney knows this, and his party didn't do anything to make the formula better for Alberta either, so what makes him think a referendum will change that? Also, is he really prepared to make Scheer answer questions on equalization while trying to win seats outside of Alberta in an upcoming federal election knowing full well the answers Albertans will want to hear will only hurt his chances?
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