Another round of Ralph bucks??? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Eagle Eye · 03-21-2006, 03:00 PM

Well I can say that it was a nice treat to get $400 bucks in January (although I didn't completly agree with it) and think it is unbelivably short sighted to have this happen a second time.

Does our government have any direction that they would like to follow for the future? Ralphs time is definitly up (I supported him through the years), Alberta needs a plan for the future that allows us to be sustainable with out Oil and Gas royalties.

Thoughts?

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...98020-sun.html

Eagle Eye · 03-21-2006, 03:01 PM

Sorry wrong forum - Mods please move

Ranchlander · 03-21-2006, 03:03 PM

I'll post assuming this thread is gonna be moved to Off topic.

I'd love another ralph cheque, but I don't know if he's gonna be in long enough to hand them out. I thought he was retiring this year. Either way, theres gonna be an outcry from all the health/education guru's if he hands more free cash away.

Engine09 · 03-21-2006, 03:04 PM

I work with someone who didn't like the idea, he donated his to charity.

Wish I had his salary and wasn't addicted to going to the Saddledome.

Rhettzky · 03-21-2006, 03:05 PM

I still haven't gotten my first one. Everyone else in our household got one but for some reason they had my address messed up in their system. They said it would be here in March but nothing yet.

albertGQ · 03-21-2006, 03:10 PM

My thoughts is to put some of the NON-RENEWABLE resource revenue into the Heritage fund so we can dip into it when the NON-RENEWABLE resources run out. Its been at the same nominal value for decades now. It hasn't even been protected from inflation.

Why is a gov't with such high surpluses even putting the interest earned from the Heritage fund back into general revenues anyway??? Lets top up the Heritage Fund for future generations who will not be able to benefit from our oil and gas

Cube Inmate · 03-21-2006, 03:19 PM

Jeebus Cripes...Ralph has truly lost it. As if the negative feedback wasn't enough the first time around! I honestly think he's just having some fun now, messing around with his power to see how much he can get away with.

I like the idea of returning citizens' excess taxes, but this out-of-the-Premier's-ass idea is not the way to do it. Cut the health care premium (tax by another name) instead. What the hell is the point of having a separately administered tax that goes to the same damn place? Waste of money.

jimmy11 · 03-21-2006, 03:29 PM

Ya, I agree with a lot of people here.

I'm a student and I need the money, but I disagreed with it big time, so I donated $200 bucks to the Childrens Hospital. I strongly encourage all of you who disagree with this policy to put you money where your mouth is and donate it to a charity (if you can afford it).

What made it even harder to accept was the fact that I don't even live in AB full time since I go to university in Ontario.

I'm a Conservative, so I'm all for lower taxes, but once you have the money, spend it and drop taxes the next year.

Just my opinion.

calculoso · 03-21-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

My thoughts is to put some of the NON-RENEWABLE resource revenue into the Heritage fund so we can dip into it when the NON-RENEWABLE resources run out. Its been at the same nominal value for decades now. It hasn't even been protected from inflation.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel....NID=&aId=10120

Quote:

Highlights of Third Quarter Fiscal Update:

- Heritage Fund receives a $1 billion deposit, in addition to $345 million for inflation proofing.

albertGQ · 03-21-2006, 04:00 PM

^^^^

Thats new. It hasn't kept up with inflation for close to a decade (or more, I beleive)

calculoso · 03-21-2006, 04:08 PM

That report was from Feb 2006.. so yes it is new.

That said, this was what the AB Gov't put out last year:
http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/albertasur...es/Surplus.pdf

Quote:

Nearly $1 billion
from this year’s surplus will be used to boost savings.

Quote:

The government is putting $226
million from the surplus into the fund to ensure that the fund
grows at least as fast as the rate of inflation.

Now, whether these numbers have been increased and are the same as above, or whether those above are in addition I don't know. The point is that contributions are being made.

FurnaceFace · 03-21-2006, 04:21 PM

This is likely not the proper view for someone living in Alberta but I'd rather they spend the money on programmes than give it to us.

Have the province kick in an extra $100 per resident of Calgary to Ctrain development and transit. $100m might help some of this "downtown parking crisis".

For the other $300m build some schools, buy some MRI machines, buy some new emergency vehicles, hire some more EMS, Police, Doctors, etc.

Tron_fdc · 03-21-2006, 04:37 PM

Can we build a "mini Vegas" instead? Maybe turn Red Deer into a big Casino?

albertGQ · 03-21-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Can we build a "mini Vegas" instead? Maybe turn Red Deer into a big Casino?

Hhahah. I like that idea. We'll be the capital of Texas Hold 'em!!!

JiriHrdina · 03-21-2006, 05:03 PM

Forget about another round of cheques and dump the Alberta Health Care premiums instead. It would put money back in the pockets of Albertans without the administration costs of sending out cheques. Frankly its absurd we still pay those premiums.

calculoso · 03-21-2006, 05:31 PM

The Alberta Health Care premium doesn't come out of everybody's pocket (directly).

My company pays my premium... and you can be sure that they won't be giving me the difference if they don't have to pay it anymore.

I like the idea of directing where the money goes. I can decide whether to donate to a charity (and which charity), whether to splurge on a much needed vacation, whether to put it in my RRSP, whatever. Health, Education, Infrastructure, etc... those areas are getting money too. It's not an either/or thing!

Hack&Lube · 03-21-2006, 05:33 PM

There is money going into the Heritage fund isn't there? Yeah, it's a bureaucratic exercise and probable million dollar waste administrating this program but maybe you save some costs on what would happen if you cut taxes on other programs and restructure them.

Maybe it's easier to keep everything status quo in case and just refund what's extra in the end.

JiriHrdina · 03-21-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculoso

The Alberta Health Care premium doesn't come out of everybody's pocket (directly).

My company pays my premium... and you can be sure that they won't be giving me the difference if they don't have to pay it anymore.

Is that not an issue between you and your employer though? My point is simply that there's no valid reason why we (companies are individuals) still pay those premiums. Are we not the only province that still does that? (someone can correct me on that if I'm mistaken).

ken0042 · 03-21-2006, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculoso

The Alberta Health Care premium doesn't come out of everybody's pocket (directly).

My company pays my premium... and you can be sure that they won't be giving me the difference if they don't have to pay it anymore.

** Blanket generalization upcoming**
The one part of this- most people who have their company pay for their health care generally make enough money; and may be in a position where $400 won't make a difference.

Myself, as much as I liked getting the $400, if $350 million had been put directly into Calgary's transportation infastructure, I would save more than $400 per year in transportation costs. (I would take the McKenzie C-train line.)

oldschoolcalgary · 03-21-2006, 09:05 PM

though it'd be nice to get more Ralph bucks, seeing the stories on Calgary's crumbling schools - esp. Western Canada High school - I'd be more than happy if they decided to spend some money on improving existing schools and/or hospitals...