Alberta Budget - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Slava · 02-09-2010, 03:55 PM

Looks like there wasn't as much cutting as was anticipated, and looks like we're going back into debt:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1461959/

Shazam · 02-09-2010, 03:57 PM

They should've reinstituted the health care premium.

octothorp · 02-09-2010, 04:19 PM

I'm not a Conservative supporter, but on the surface, I think this budget strikes more or less the right balance; I hate seeing the government react overly dramatically toward what is likely the tail-end of a recession.

bcb · 02-09-2010, 04:28 PM

I think the PC's made the right decision. By focusing on health care, infrastructure and education, Stelmach will ensure we don't get into the kind of rut that occurred at the end of the Klein Revolution.

This is especially true for infrastructure. Really, it's a 'pay now or pay later' approach.

Regarding the Rainy Day fund, that money isn't doing the People of Alberta any good sitting in a bank account. If oil rebounds, that fund will be reinvigorated within 5 years. I do hope the government invests in research and development. Once the oil is gone, the Rainy Day fund will be a moot point anyway.

Eagle Eye · 02-09-2010, 04:30 PM

we spend 40% (15 billion) of the budget on Healthcare? Wow something really needs to be done to get it more efficent. How can you spend so much and yet have very little to show from it.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Alberta...225/story.html

CaptainCrunch · 02-09-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcb

I think the PC's made the right decision. By focusing on health care, infrastructure and education, Stelmach will ensure we don't get into the kind of rut that occurred at the end of the Klein Revolution.

This is especially true for infrastructure. Really, it's a 'pay now or pay later' approach.

Regarding the Rainy Day fund, that money isn't doing the People of Alberta any good sitting in a bank account. If oil rebounds, that fund will be reinvigorated within 5 years. I do hope the government invests in research and development. Once the oil is gone, the Rainy Day fund will be a moot point anyway.

Naw our strategy should be to become a have not province with very loud seperatist type demands.

Alberta should balance its budget on the backs of Sask's economy.

Azure · 02-09-2010, 10:47 PM

I don't like it. There is a lot of money being wasted on health care crap that could be saved.

I was hoping they wouldn't cut it like crazy just for the sake of balancing the budget, but they could have done a better job than this.

bcb · 02-09-2010, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't like it. There is a lot of money being wasted on health care crap that could be saved.

I was hoping they wouldn't cut it like crazy just for the sake of balancing the budget, but they could have done a better job than this.

What sort of 'health care crap'?

starseed · 02-10-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcb

What sort of 'health care crap'?

Well first of all, cancer treatment. They can cut that out easily. Then there is all those babies in ICU's. You would save a lot from dropping that. We could also blow up foothills.

There are always options.

Eagle Eye · 02-10-2010, 07:44 AM

I wouldnt want to see any deep cuts to health and education obviously, but I would love to see the numbers of what other regions (countries or provinces) that have comparable spending or comparable service.

Seems like a lot to spend, and people still complain that it isnt any good

stampsx2 · 02-10-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

Well first of all, cancer treatment. They can cut that out easily. Then there is all those babies in ICU's. You would save a lot from dropping that. We could also blow up foothills.

There are always options.

I really hope you are joking, and if you are it's not funny.

LChoy · 02-10-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

we spend 40% (15 billion) of the budget on Healthcare? Wow something really needs to be done to get it more efficent. How can you spend so much and yet have very little to show from it.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Alberta...225/story.html

I work for health so I'm going to give a devil's advocate opinion
15billion and 40% of the budget does seem overly much to spend on health when you look at it that way. However, it's not really the best way to judge it by comparing to % of the budget. Budgets aren't a good way to measure population and economic pressures.
One of the interesting statistical analysis that we did is to compare how much we spend on health based on Alberta's GDP, population, and service delivery. In that light, Alberta in the last 5 years has spent very similarly with the top OECD countries such as France.
However, the system still has many things that needs to be fixed and things always need to be improved. However, for spending, we're on the right track

Slava · 02-10-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampsx2

I really hope you are joking, and if you are it's not funny.

Lighten up....its clearly a joke. Even if he was being serious its still worth laughing at though!

stampsx2 · 02-10-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Lighten up....its clearly a joke. Even if he was being serious its still worth laughing at though!

Laughing about taking away/reducing treatment from people suffering from cancer or babies in ICU"s is not something to lighten up about.

Bill Bumface · 02-10-2010, 09:54 AM

Yes.

It is.

Slava · 02-10-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Laughing about taking away/reducing treatment from people suffering from cancer or babies in ICU"s is not something to lighten up about.

I guess I can't read minds, but I'm fairly sure that anyone suggesting that they stop treating cancer or shut down neo-natal ICU is joking.

In case you weren't aware, and as a pure public service let me point out that if you are looking to take things really serious and get into arguments we don't do that in the political threads on CP. We use the travel threads for that...

nik- · 02-10-2010, 10:01 AM

I'm glad they're spending more on Health Care.

Old Yeller · 02-10-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampsx2

I really hope you are joking, and if you are it's not funny.

INTERNET!!!!!

(I laughed)

mykalberta · 02-10-2010, 10:02 AM

That budget was an absolute disgrace to anyone who considers themselves to be on the right side of the political spectrum.

A completely gutless move from a government that is a picture perfect for our debt ridden society.

No vision or anything, just the age old alberta tactic of lets close our eyes and hope commodity prices rise.

Its embarasing really. I am not a fan of Smith as I prefer the Devil I know rather the one I dont but anything is better than setting the budget on cruise control while heading towards a cliff.

LokeyD · 02-10-2010, 10:12 AM

As a post-secondary student, the combined cuts to Universities, grants, scholarships, research money plus raised tuition will lower student body populations.

This budget has a lack of foresight.