Albertans on average give $3,700 to other provinces per year.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Transfer payments are lame because the provinces all manage their own budgets. Some provinces without the budget spend like they have the money, only because we are paying for it. We tighten our belts, and they don't. That is why the average person may be choked about it.

That's not at all how equalization works. When I lived in New Brunswick in the 90s, the province was running a balanced budget (after some pretty harsh service cut-backs) yet still received equalization payments. Without equalization, the NB government wouldn't be able to provide its citizens with similar quality healthcare and education and infrastructure as the richer provinces. Transfer payments have absolutely nothing to do with the fiscal responsibility (or lack thereof) of the various provincial governments or the "laziness" of the population as perceived by Albertans.

[merlin]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Give me a break, you mean there isnt actually reservations paid for by the taxpayers? The lump sum payments made when you turn 18? The subsidized housing, tax breaks on incomes, smokes, booze ect? Its great that you pay taxes, plenty don't. Nothing like a whoa me attitude when theres a pretty big problem.

Show me some facts on what your talking about, it doesn't make any sense.

[burn_this_city]

The federal budget for indian affairs in Canada is $7 billion annually.

I mostly made my original comment in jest. People always complain about taxes in alberta going elsewhere. It wasnt intended to offend you.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

It only pisses me off because Quebec runs a deficit while having really enhanced and expensive un neccessay programs funded by transfers from the Federal government.

Does not know how equalization works

[HPLovecraft]

Yay for Albertan provincialism!

[Tinordi]

Every single Albertan should be taught how equalization works in school just to reduce the amount of baseless ignorant complaining alone.

READ THIS ARTICLE:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/eqp-eng.asp

If you don't or can't understand it then you have absolutely no legitimacy of complaint.

[CaptainCrunch]

Thanks Tinordi but I'm well aware of how equalization works.

Let me pose this question to you, why is it that the provinces that have to give into the pot actually provide lesser services then the provinces that receive equalization?

In terms of services that are suppossed to be adjusted by equalization are things like Day Care services and tuition, which the Quebec government heavily subsidizes beyond the basic amounts that an Alberta puts into place.

How is it that Quebec gets more then half of the equalization budget, and their equalization payout has increased about 74% over the last few years while other have not provinces have only increased by 20 to 30%.

While other provinces equalize their service offerings Quebec gold plates them and presents the bill to the rest of Canada.

The equalization program is inherently unfair.

And I get that equalization is based on economic performances, but that doesn't convince me that its necessary to gouge the few have provinces so that the have not's like Quebec can actually offer more services then the have provinces.

[DuffMan]

Quebec pisses me off and chiefs on reserves that make CEO salary piss me off. No offense to you personally Merlin, but it has been in the news lately, and I don't think they warrant a salary beyond the PMs', let alone a lot more than the PM'


http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Nat...372/story.html

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Every single Albertan should be taught how equalization works in school just to reduce the amount of baseless ignorant complaining alone.

READ THIS ARTICLE:

http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/eqp-eng.asp

If you don't or can't understand it then you have absolutely no legitimacy of complaint.

It doesn't account for the higher cost of living in places like Alberta, which makes for higher costs of delivering equal services.

[Jbo]

So an Albertan, a Quebecor and a Native American walk into a bar....

[merlin]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The federal budget for indian affairs in Canada is $7 billion annually.

I mostly made my original comment in jest. People always complain about taxes in alberta going elsewhere. It wasnt intended to offend you.

I hate paying taxes as much as you do, I'm sure

[SebC]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

So an Albertan, a Quebecor and a Native American walk into a bar....

The other two get drunk and stick the Albertan with the tab?

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by SebC

The other two get drunk and stick the Albertan with the tab?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by SebC

The other two get drunk and stick the Albertan with the tab?

[CalgaryFan1988]

So, how well was Alberta doing before they struck oil? Wonder if they needed any help from the rest of Canada then.

[amorak]

Albertans do realize we were going bankrupt in the 30s and the rest of the country paid off our debt and saved our ass, right?

Pay it forward

[Matata]

nmd.

[DuffMan]

Certainly don't mind helping others in need, but I don't think Quebec is actually in need. More like, if we don't give them money, they will get all crazy and threaten to seperate.

[Stranger]

Is Quebec always a have not province or do they usually contribute to payments?

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

That's not at all how equalization works. When I lived in New Brunswick in the 90s, the province was running a balanced budget (after some pretty harsh service cut-backs) yet still received equalization payments. Without equalization, the NB government wouldn't be able to provide its citizens with similar quality healthcare and education and infrastructure as the richer provinces. Transfer payments have absolutely nothing to do with the fiscal responsibility (or lack thereof) of the various provincial governments or the "laziness" of the population as perceived by Albertans.

I don't disagree with what you said. But what I was pointing out is that sometimes we are choked about where our money goes because we do not agree with how a province that receives our money spends it. Why should I pay my money to someone else? I have a right to be peeved about taxes, especially if it is spent elsewhere. And who says health care is equal in all provinces? That is simply not true. Education, childcare, infrastructure - it is all not equal. Transfer payments as you suggest certainly does not work in any way that guarantees equality.

You also state the NB had some pretty harsh service cut-backs, yet still provided similar quality healthcare, education and infrastructure. So what did they cut back if this still had similar quality health care, education and infrastructure? Please clear that up.

Also, there is so much political BS associated with it, that it is almost fraud that my money leaves this province. Have a look at the tactics that keep provinces voting a certain way, all to keep their transfer payments. Have a look at this article regarding Quebec:

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/262957

Either way, I should be able to see what my taxes pay for. I understand the aspects of a socialist country, I just don't see everyone acting together in a socially conservative manner.