Alberta Politics Thread

[Alpine Fisher]

Is One way to get around the minimum wage is to pay 100% commission?
Pay your server a commission based on how many tables she closes / serves!
Calgary Puck Lawyers, is this a feasible loophole?

[Resolute 14]

Would that not require classifying your employees as contractors? Can't see that flying. Can see someone trying though.

[Alpine Fisher]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Well, I'm sure your nanny will be thanking Notley for the "living wage" as she is sent packing back to the Phillipines when you inevitably have to let her go.

If the Economy doesn't pick up, I am going to have to fly to the Phillipines and work as a Nanny!

Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier 2: Phillipines or Bust"

[CaptainCrunch]

Between that and the numbers coming out on the provincial carbon tax ($400 plus dollars a year in cost of living increase, a number that's low to me) and the Federal Carbon Tax (By the time it hits $50.tonne, it will add over $2600 dollars per year), I fail to see how these, we fight for the little guy form of government are actually doing anything but pushing the little guys into the poor house.

What's happening at a provincial and federal level in terms just the cavalier jacking up of taxation isn't going after the 1%, they won't be effected, and they'll probably be loop holes put in for them. But the middle class and the lower class, they'll get completely screwed because as much as Notley screams rebate, it won't cover, and as much as Trudeau preens about how this is revenue neutral because the dough will go to the provinces, we know that Wynne and Notley and Clarke will grab that money like a vacuum powered eating machine and it will get lost in general revenue.

In the next 5 years, we're looking at a perfect storm of taxation, incompetence, insane political theory and general dumb %%%%%%% that's going to make it very hard on people just getting by.

[Alpine Fisher]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Between that and the numbers coming out on the provincial carbon tax ($400 plus dollars a year in cost of living increase, a number that's low to me) and the Federal Carbon Tax (By the time it hits $50.tonne, it will add over $2600 dollars per year), I fail to see how these, we fight for the little guy form of government are actually doing anything but pushing the little guys into the poor house.

What's happening at a provincial and federal level in terms just the cavalier jacking up of taxation isn't going after the 1%, they won't be effected, and they'll probably be loop holes put in for them. But the middle class and the lower class, they'll get completely screwed because as much as Notley screams rebate, it won't cover, and as much as Trudeau preens about how this is revenue neutral because the dough will go to the provinces, we know that Wynne and Notley and Clarke will grab that money like a vacuum powered eating machine and it will get lost in general revenue.

In the next 5 years, we're looking at a perfect storm of taxation, incompetence, insane political theory and general dumb %%%%%%% that's going to make it very hard on people just getting by.

This. I have decided to quit life and travel. I hate living in Calgary (because of who is mayor), I hate our Premier & I hate our Prime Minister.
If Clinton gets elected, it will be 4 leaders whom I will have to listen to spewing garbage.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Would that not require classifying your employees as contractors? Can't see that flying. Can see someone trying though.

Hmmm.....maybe if the restaurant operated similarly to hair salons where the barber/stylist is charged 'chair rent.'

They could just call it 'table rent' and go from there.

But good luck if you need a server to work a slow day.

[Tron_fdc]

Yeah I have a real tough time believing the ctax money is going back to the provinces.

Just like the GST was to pay off the debt. Riiiiiiiiight.

Welcome to the new morality tax people. It won't change any of our habits, it's just going to take more money out of our wallets.

[Resolute 14]

Depends on how you define "the little guy", CC.

Low income earners will certainly get all kinds of rebates. High income earners will pay a ton, but can absorb it. The group that is going to be taking this up the ass with no recourse is the middle class. We don't make enough to easily off-set the hit, and we make too much to qualify for much, if any, rebates.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hmmm.....maybe if the restaurant operated similarly to hair salons where the barber/stylist is charged 'chair rent.'

They could just call it 'table rent' and go from there.

But good luck if you need a server to work a slow day.

And one complaint to the Canada Revenue Agency related to contractor misclassification, and you get audited to death. The penalties, as you are far more aware of than I, are not pleasant.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Depends on how you define "the little guy", CC.

Low income earners will certainly get all kinds of rebates. High income earners will pay a ton, but can absorb it. The group that is going to be taking this up the ass with no recourse is the middle class. We don't make enough to easily off-set the hit, and we make too much to qualify for much, if any, rebates.

Low income earners will get rebates, but normally they rent, which will in turn see them paying more for housing. Food price increases will also be passed on to the consumer, so essentially their buying power has eroded anyway.

[Resolute 14]

Indeed. But middle class people are going to be paying through the nose on electricity and gas - which will likely outstrip the increased rent for low income - will face the same food cost increases and won't get rebates.

All from two governments that claimed they would fight for the middle class.

It would be disheartening if it wasn't so completely expected.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Depends on how you define "the little guy", CC.

Low income earners will certainly get all kinds of rebates. High income earners will pay a ton, but can absorb it. The group that is going to be taking this up the ass with no recourse is the middle class. We don't make enough to easily off-set the hit, and we make too much to qualify for much, if any, rebates.

1. Lost my federal universal child care benefit
2. My Professional Corp had a corporate tax increase on the provincial level
3. My Alberta personal tax increased as well.
4. Carbon Tax is raising the price of everything
5. Minimum wage increase is making child care more expensive

Each of these increases on their own is manageable. It is just that everything is being implemented at the same time. We are getting hit 5 different ways at the same time. Add on the fact that my practice is slower due to the economy and my wife (in Oil and Gas) has a pay freeze and is always at risk of being laid off. Luckily we bought a house that was well within our means or we would be really taxed to make ends meet.

How much of this money is going to come back around to improve health care or education ? Probably none. How much will improve roads/infrastructure ? Maybe a bit. Most of it will be thrown at trying to reduce an always increasing deficit. How much actual carbon reduction will happen ? Probably very little.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Depends on how you define "the little guy", CC.

Low income earners will certainly get all kinds of rebates. High income earners will pay a ton, but can absorb it. The group that is going to be taking this up the ass with no recourse is the middle class. We don't make enough to easily off-set the hit, and we make too much to qualify for much, if any, rebates.

Fair enough. But I doubt that the rebate that Notley talks about is going to come close to covering the incidental increased cost of living to food, and rent and other things. It might cover gas and heating, but everything else that goes up, is never going to be covered.

I mean its just so stupid because when we talk about an increase in a person or families life of $460.00, they're paying that after already paying taxes, so where are they going to get a pre tax increase of about $900.00 a year. Or in the Federal case about $5500.00 per year if the numbers that are floating around are true.

We're talking lunacy levels of taxation increase with no plan beyond, doan you worry hunny chil, we'll give you a unscientifically calculated rebate that we pulled out of our a$$ because it sounds good to the rubes.

And the funny thing is that this next provincial election will be fought on this carbon tax. And whatever party wins won't recind it because they won't be able to rescind it.

They certainly won't roll back the minimum wage no matter what it does to the economy.

You know what the fix will be right. "well Notley ran this province into the ground, so we'll fix it by taxing you more"

At paying about 43% of my checks to the government, and getting back a health care system in distress, a poor government at all levels, crumbling infrastructure, and poor spending decisions, combined with the overall bloat at all levels of government, by the time my retirement rolls around, we'll all be paying more then half our checks to the three levels of government with none of the benefits of actually working for the government.

Its just getting so stupid and its getting unaffordable.

[Makarov]

At paying about 43% of my checks to the government, and getting back a health care system in distress, a poor government at all levels, crumbling infrastructure, and poor spending decisions, combined with the overall bloat at all levels of government, by the time my retirement rolls around, we'll all be paying more then half our checks to the three levels of government with none of the benefits of actually working for the government.

Its just getting so stupid and its getting unaffordable.

Have you ever considered the possibility that you have entirely unrealistic expectations about the standard of living to which you are entitled?

The last time I checked, Canada, and more particularly Alberta, and even more particularly Calgary, had amongst the highest quality of life anywhere in the world.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Have you ever considered the possibility that you have entirely unrealistic expectations about the standard of living to which you are entitled?

The last time I checked, Canada, and more particularly Alberta, and even more particularly Calgary, had amongst the highest quality of life anywhere in the world.

I think for most the issue is everything being implemented at once during horrible economic times.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Have you ever considered the possibility that you have entirely unrealistic expectations about the standard of living to which you are entitled?

The last time I checked, Canada, and more particularly Alberta, and even more particularly Calgary, had amongst the highest quality of life anywhere in the world.

Sure working hard on bringing us back toward the mean though, aren't we?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Have you ever considered the possibility that you have entirely unrealistic expectations about the standard of living to which you are entitled?

There it is, folks! We've got the NDP campaign slogan for 2019!

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Low income earners will get rebates, but normally they rent, which will in turn see them paying more for housing. Food price increases will also be passed on to the consumer, so essentially their buying power has eroded anyway.

True, but they have to file an income tax return to get the rebate.

I wonder how many low income workers actually bother to file their taxes, and take advantage of all the rebates/credits available from the government.

Maybe most of them do, but if people are struggling to pay rent, buy food/ clothing, pay for school, etc. on low wages, can they afford to pay an accountant to file their taxes?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hes

1. Lost my federal universal child care benefit
2. My Professional Corp had a corporate tax increase on the provincial level
3. My Alberta personal tax increased as well.
4. Carbon Tax is raising the price of everything
5. Minimum wage increase is making child care more expensive

Each of these increases on their own is manageable. It is just that everything is being implemented at the same time. We are getting hit 5 different ways at the same time. Add on the fact that my practice is slower due to the economy and my wife (in Oil and Gas) has a pay freeze and is always at risk of being laid off. Luckily we bought a house that was well within our means or we would be really taxed to make ends meet.

How much of this money is going to come back around to improve health care or education ? Probably none. How much will improve roads/infrastructure ? Maybe a bit. Most of it will be thrown at trying to reduce an always increasing deficit. How much actual carbon reduction will happen ? Probably very little.

Completely agree, and many of us have been screaming about it since Day 1 and we're told that its all on the name of the 'Greater Good.'

We're helping the poor, and we're helping the environment and we're helping....

Have you noticed any positive effects? I havent.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wiggum_PI

True, but they have to file an income tax return to get the rebate.

I wonder how many low income workers actually bother to file their taxes, and take advantage of all the rebates/credits available from the government.

Maybe most of them do, but if people are struggling to pay rent, buy food/ clothing, pay for school, etc. on low wages, can they afford to pay an accountant to file their taxes?

I have an affiliation with an organization here in where I do tax work for Low Income families, students and immigrants.

And the answer is 'no.'

If I werent doing it for cheap/free it would likely not be getting done. I get a lot of 'multiple years.'