April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I've never read the act and have no idea what it entails, so thanks.

Waiting nine months for a diagnostic image before treatment is not reasonable to me. The health act needs a revision.

Alberta health should be using these private clinics to speed up waiting times.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I've never read the act and have no idea what it entails, so thanks.

Waiting nine months for a diagnostic image before treatment is not reasonable to me. The health act needs a revision.

Read the Romanow report. He gives a very good list of 47 recommendations that would amend the Health Act, as well as refinance the health system. Well, actually don't read the whole report, read a summary of it. Unfortunately, it was an independent panel so it had very little legislative power, and almost none of his recommendations have been used yet.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Dion

You can claim the MRI as a medical expense on your tax return.

You can but you have to have spent a LOT of money on health in one year for it to make any difference. I can't remember the exact numbers but it is many thousands of dollars.

Edit: Quick Google
http://www.taxtips.ca/filing/medical...etaxcredit.htm

Medical expenses for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children under 18 are claimed on line 330 of the federal tax return. Only expenses in excess of the lesser of $2,052 (Federal, for 2011, $2,109 for 2012) or 3% of net income can be claimed. The lowest tax rate is applied to the medical expenses to determine the amount of the tax credit.

So if you made 60K you could only claim expenses in excess of $1800 and even then it would be a non refundable credit. Say you spent $2000, you would get a tax credit of $200 which at the lowest tax rate would be $30?

[Slava]

True enough, but insurance costs you pay can be included. If you pay $200/mo and then have other bills on top its still something.

This is a great illustration of why I think these tax credits are so ridiculous though. You save up all kinds of receipts and proofs, someone goes through it all and administers a program for people to save a pittance.

[Rathji]

Since people are relating MRI stories, I thought I would pass along one that indicates that there is (or at least was) a definite surplus of MRI in Alberta.

I hurt my knee at work about 10 years ago. Went on WCB and did some physio for a couple weeks and things were not getting better so they sent me to see this WCB doctor. My appointment with him was early afternoon, maybe 2pm or so, and he said you need an MRI so handed me a card for this clinic and said you have an appointment for 5pm tonight.

I went to the MRI clinic, which was completely empty except for me, and was done my MRI less than 4 hours after I saw the doctor the first time. I understand it was through WCB so financially it made a lot of sense for them to rush it but for a machine like that to sit basically unused in this province is a sign that something is wrong.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I honestly do not understand what Love is talking about in that Baird article, Klein is sick so you cannot criticize him? You would think that Love would have something positive to say about Klein, instead he says leave him alone? You worked with the guy Rod, if you are that offended why don't you stand up for him?

Love is not saying you cant criticize Klein...he is saying the man cannot defend himself any longer so Love and others will speak for him.

The funny thing in all this is that Redford backtracked afterwards and now has really hurt herself (in the party base) with the original suggestions.

Then when Lougheed jumping in with his loud mouth and decreeing ralph as also being a poor Premier, then endorsing Redford....well its become obvious where they were headed with all of it.

Its really quite shocking that Redford would bring Klein into an election in which he has zerio ability to influence things either way and comes off as very petty if not downright insidious.

She is one desperate politician right now.

Good.

[killer_carlson]

I'm a chistian.
I'm a wild rose supporter.

And I'm also in favor of gay rights.

I do not agree with this pastor and do not think he will be elected.

My vote won't be changing and I suspect that I am not the only one with these views this election.

[burn_this_city]

I've also got an MRI on the same day, but likely it was because I had a moderate concussion. Same story though, the waiting room was empty and I was in and out in 30 mins.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Love is not saying you cant criticize Klein...he is saying the man cannot defend himself any longer so Love and others will speak for him.

The funny thing in all this is that Redford backtracked afterwards and now has really hurt herself (in the party base) with the original suggestions.

Then when Lougheed jumping in with his loud mouth and decreeing ralph as also being a poor Premier, then endorsing Redford....well its become obvious where they were headed with all of it.

Its really quite shocking that Redford would bring Klein into an election in which he has zerio ability to influence things either way and comes off as very petty if not downright insidious.

She is one desperate politician right now.

Good.

Agreed. It was a shock to me that the pcs are taking shots at Klein.

In fact, I'd be curious to see how he polls popularity wise even today vs loughheed, Getty, stelmach and Redford.

This also took some of the luster off of my otherwise high opinion of loughheed as well

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Love is not saying you cant criticize Klein...he is saying the man cannot defend himself any longer so Love and others will speak for him.

What does this quote from Rod Love mean then?

"If you’re going to discuss Ralph Klein you should discuss his legacy, not second-guess what he did or say, ‘he took us backwards,’ which is just baffling to me."

Edit: While it is sad to see what has happened to Ralph Klein as a person, it is important to seperate the policies from the person, and to the best of my knowledge no one has attacked Klein the person.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I find it kind of weird to be reading Raj pleading for centrists in Calgary not to abandon the Liberals for the PC because the Liberals seats will be important to balancing out a minority government....except if the PCs don't get their seats up (lords knows the Libs aren't taking seats away from the Wildrose), there isn't going to be a minority government to speak of.

I heard on the news this morning the Wildrose has 20+ point leads in almost all rural ridings, so it's going to come down to the cities to decide this thing.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Agreed. It was a shock to me that the pcs are taking shots at Klein.

In fact, I'd be curious to see how he polls popularity wise even today vs loughheed, Getty, stelmach and Redford.

This also took some of the luster off of my otherwise high opinion of loughheed as well

I didn't see the attack on Klein, can you link it or does someone have a link?

[killer_carlson]

It was always going to come to the cities to win the election.

The pcs also lead in several rural ridings as well.

I think the pc strategy of

Anybody but dinning
Anybody but Morton
Anybody but smith

To be tired. Isn't there something else the supporters can use to try and convince voters? That tactic isn't political strategy, it is political gossip.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I find it kind of weird to be reading Raj pleading for centrists in Calgary not to abandon the Liberals for the PC because the Liberals seats will be important to balancing out a minority government....except if the PCs don't get their seats up (lords knows the Libs aren't taking seats away from the Wildrose), there isn't going to be a minority government to speak of.

I heard on the news this morning the Wildrose has 20+ point leads in almost all rural ridings, so it's going to come down to the cities to decide this thing.

Calgary is going to be the real battle ground for this election. It really sounds like most of Rural Alberta is going WildRose, with a few exceptions (the smaller cities such as Fort Mac, Lethbridge and Red deer for example). Which isn't really expected, the WRP have played really well to that base. There's a line at the bottom of this Global and Mail article which is pretty telling:

Later in the day, Ms. Smith spoke to a packed house in Camrose, Alta., falling back on her stump speech to overwhelming applause. In Camrose, just one of scores of rural communities forming a pillar of the Wildrose base, you didn't hear the name Hunsperger once.

It's now the cities which are the big battle ground. If the PCs keep Edmonton (which I don't think they'll sweep), it'll come down to who takes Calgary. Even then the PCs to form a minority or a Majority need an almost full sweep of Calgary to win, which I think will be difficult at best. I have a feeling we're heading for a Minority WildRose Government on the 23rd.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Slava

I didn't see the attack on Klein, can you link it or does someone have a link?

I believe it was made at a private fundraiser dinner in Calgary a few days before the election. So the comments were not public, but a lot of people in the room were at the time both PC supporters and fans/friends of Ralph Klein.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

Calgary is going to be the real battle ground for this election. It really sounds like most of Rural Alberta is going WildRose, with a few exceptions (the smaller cities such as Fort Mac, Lethbridge and Red deer for example). Which isn't really expected, the WRP have played really well to that base. There's a line at the bottom of this Global and Mail article which is pretty telling:



It's now the cities which are the big battle ground. If the PCs keep Edmonton (which I don't think they'll sweep), it'll come down to who takes Calgary. Even then the PCs to form a minority or a Majority need an almost full sweep of Calgary to win, which I think will be difficult at best. I have a feeling we're heading for a Minority WildRose Government on the 23rd.

Yeah I don't think the PCs have the math to get any sort of government, minority or majority. I'll be curious to see the Wildrose approach if they get a minority. Will they look to force an election the first chance they get? Or will they actually try and work with the other parties? One thing that stuck to me at the end of the televised debate was Danielle almost pleading for a majority government. Makes me wonder if they'll have any interest working with others.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Jacks

You can but you have to have spent a LOT of money on health in one year for it to make any difference. I can't remember the exact numbers but it is many thousands of dollars.

Edit: Quick Google
http://www.taxtips.ca/filing/medical...etaxcredit.htm
So if you made 60K you could only claim expenses in excess of $1800 and even then it would be a non refundable credit. Say you spent $2000, you would get a tax credit of $200 which at the lowest tax rate would be $30?

There is a flaw in your interpretation here.
You have tax credits confused with tax deductions. A deduction is applied against your total income to lower the number that is used to calculate the taxes owed. A credit is much better, it is applied against the amount of tax owing and will reduce the taxes owed by the same amount.
So a $200 tax credit is worth exactly $200 to anyone who files taxes. If you didn't make $1 last year you can file your taxes and have the tax credit as the only item on the form and you will get a refund of $200.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Yes, but the province isn't allowed to pick up the bill for those extras, so from the original question, taxpayers won't be paying more if someone uses one of these services to keep wait times down, those bills will come out of private insurance or out of pocket payments.

This is true, but what I laid out are the arguments many use for why greater private involvement even in a single payer system could undermine the public portion of the health system, ultimately leading to further private involvement and reduction of effective universality. It's a slippery slope argument but not without merit.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Slava

I didn't see the attack on Klein, can you link it or does someone have a link?

Here's the general synopsis:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/04/17...tical-football

The only out right attack on Klein during the campaign came from Lougheed during his interview with CTV. Which isn't really a shocker as it seams like Klein and Lougheed have been at odds with each other for decades.

The other event was at a donor party before the election Redford made comments, that no one is releasing, that angered some of Klein's supporters.

And the not your "Father's PC Party" campaign could be inferred as an attack on Klein ... or you could take it as a really misguided attempt to be hip and cool to younger voters.

... and contrary to the breaking reports last night it would appear that Colleen purchased a membership in November.

That's pretty much it in a nut shell, unless there's a stump speech where Redford attacks Klein openly that I missed. If anyone's been paying attention to the election it's really not that shocking that there is a rift between the two camps.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I find it kind of weird to be reading Raj pleading for centrists in Calgary not to abandon the Liberals for the PC because the Liberals seats will be important to balancing out a minority government....except if the PCs don't get their seats up (lords knows the Libs aren't taking seats away from the Wildrose), there isn't going to be a minority government to speak of.

It is rather amusing to hear Raj begging centrists to not abandon the Liberals despite the fact that he himself has abandoned the centre. The succession of poor leaders in the Liberal party finally caught up, and his moving the party left hasn't done a damn thing for him. Right now they are barely polling at 40% of their vote in 2008, and still going down.