Prentice Blames Albertans

[Burke Salad]

Our community voted Wildrose, only for him to join the PC government.

[shermanator]

He's kind of right though. Albertans have paid artificially low taxes for years, propped up by volatile royalty revenues. It's unsustainable and the lack of a balanced budget needs to be addressed.

Combining both the right increase in taxes and a reduction in government bloat is really the way to go IMO. From what it sounds like the budget will begin the latter of that.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

Our community voted Wildrose, only for him to join the PC government.

Don't think for a second that Wild Rose would have handled this any better.

[polak]

Up Next: PC's still budget exclusively on Oil Royalties, see how it's your fault after these messages.

[temple5]

I like Prentice but there needs to be at least a minority government for anything to really change. And 1 person cant chance decades of rot.

There is a lot of blame to go around.

Probably in this order:

1 - PC's kept taxes artificially low compared to the next lowest province which meant people kept voting for them. The other partys are in such dissaray that now is the perfect time to bring in a PST, I think at most they lose is 10 seats. Take your lumps now while there is no real downside and start to fix things rather than not changing with the times.

2 - PET ruined all chances of the Liberals ever mounting an effective opposition in Alberta which is why the run has lasted so long and why the WRA even exists in the first place. And members of the Liberal party in Alberta seem too blind to see that a re-branding is all that is required (hello Alberta party).

3 - Over decades of "no chance of losing elections" the political system has elevated the mediocre to positions of power and the resulting policies have been worse than mediocre.

Alberta has one big problem and that is union contracts whose wages have grown lock step with the private sector and havent been reduced given the benefits they receive that the private sector dosnt. Businesses can institute a 10% across the board pay reduction but governments cant. And speaking from someone whose mother is a nurse and who thinks for some reason she is entitled to private sector wages and public sector benefits - the fight to reduce the costs across all sectors of the province will not be an easy battle.

Im hoping it doesnt get this far, but I wonder what will happen with the equalization payments. What happens when every province is a have not province, where does the money come from?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Sounds like a guy who knows his party is pretty much invincible. And why wouldn't he feel that way? We're probably about to give them 10-15 more seats in a few weeks.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by temple5

I like Prentice but there needs to be at least a minority government for anything to really change. And 1 person cant chance decades of rot.

There is a lot of blame to go around.

Probably in this order:

1 - PC's kept taxes artificially low compared to the next lowest province which meant people kept voting for them. The other partys are in such dissaray that now is the perfect time to bring in a PST, I think at most they lose is 10 seats. Take your lumps now while there is no real downside and start to fix things rather than not changing with the times.

2 - PET ruined all chances of the Liberals ever mounting an effective opposition in Alberta which is why the run has lasted so long and why the WRA even exists in the first place. And members of the Liberal party in Alberta seem too blind to see that a re-branding is all that is required (hello Alberta party).

3 - Over decades of "no chance of losing elections" the political system has elevated the mediocre to positions of power and the resulting policies have been worse than mediocre.

Alberta has one big problem and that is union contracts whose wages have grown lock step with the private sector and havent been reduced given the benefits they receive that the private sector dosnt. Businesses can institute a 10% across the board pay reduction but governments cant. And speaking from someone whose mother is a nurse and who thinks for some reason she is entitled to private sector wages and public sector benefits - the fight to reduce the costs across all sectors of the province will not be an easy battle.

Im hoping it doesnt get this far, but I wonder what will happen with the equalization payments. What happens when every province is a have not province, where does the money come from?

Have and have not are relative to each other. Equalization is roughly based on each provinces ability to deliver equivalent services on average. By definition there will always be provinces to do better and worse than average.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Originally Posted by Ducay

This is not how democracy works.

Yes it is.

It's not how first-past-the-post works, but it is certainly how democracy works.

The point is 1/3 of Albertans weren't irresponsible. They did everything in their power to avoid the present day situation. Of course now that the PC fanboys are feeling a little bit ashamed, they want everyone to share in the blame.

[IliketoPuck]

Does the average person feel teachers are fairly paid for what they do, given the conditions they have to work in, and the implied hours that are expected of them?

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by CampbellsTransgressions

Yes it is.

It's not how first-past-the-post works, but it is certainly how democracy works.

The point is 1/3 of Albertans weren't irresponsible. They did everything in their power to avoid the present day situation. Of course now that the PC fanboys are feeling a little bit ashamed, they want everyone to share in the blame.

edit lol nm

[polak]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Does the average person feel teachers are fairly paid for what they do, given the conditions they have to work in, and the implied hours that are expected of them?

Today?

Yes.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Does the average person feel teachers are fairly paid for what they do, given the conditions they have to work in, and the implied hours that are expected of them?

I guess I would need more information about their compensation package.

The second two questions are tuff, because (as I understand it) you can have two teachers that are in the same pay scale, but work in much different conditions and hours.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by polak

Yes.

Please elaborate.

If your boss came to you with the following:

1. You are taking a massive pay cut.
2. Your work load is doubling.
3. You will have no additional resources.
4. Anything beyond a mediocre budget of a few hundred dollars will have to be funded by you personally (out of your after tax dollars, which by the way, you will have less of after your pay cut).
5. The board of directors has decided that for the fourth time in four years, to change the way in which you report performance.
6. To keep up, you will have to work even more overtime than you already do, which you don't get paid for.

What would your response be? I know what mine would be.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by shermanator

He's kind of right though. Albertans have paid artificially low taxes for years, propped up by volatile royalty revenues. It's unsustainable and the lack of a balanced budget needs to be addressed.

Combining both the right increase in taxes and a reduction in government bloat is really the way to go IMO. From what it sounds like the budget will begin the latter of that.

It seems from the outside looking in, that Albertans are far too obsessed with balanced budgets and low taxes.

When Alberta's economy was over-heating would have been the time to raise taxes and lower spending. To do it now seems like it would be a disaster. Especially if oil prices stay as they are for a couple years.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I guess I would need more information about their compensation package.

The second two questions are tuff, because (as I understand it) you can have two teachers that are in the same pay scale, but work in much different conditions and hours.

This isn't directed at you in particular, but all CBAs are publicly available on the Human Services website.

http://humanservices.alberta.ca/apps/cba/search.asp

Pay scales are on Pages 4 / 5 of the CBA for CBE Teachers. Link

[polak]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Please elaborate.

If your boss came to you with the following:

1. You are taking a massive pay cut.
2. Your work load is doubling.
3. You will have no additional resources.
4. Anything beyond a mediocre budget of a few hundred dollars will have to be funded by you personally (out of your after tax dollars, which by the way, you will have less of after your pay cut).
5. The board of directors has decided that for the fourth time in four years, to change the way in which you report performance.
6. To keep up, you will have to work even more overtime than you already do, which you don't get paid for.

What would your response be? I know what mine would be.

I'm basing my answer from 3 teachers I know. All of whom have zero complaints. One of whom works in the poorest districts in Edmonton.

All of your points mirror pretty much exactly what's happening in the private sector in O & G.

You're not going to hear a peep of sympathy from me for overtime with the guaranteed, hassle free vacation they get.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by CampbellsTransgressions

Yes it is.

It's not how first-past-the-post works, but it is certainly how democracy works.

The point is 1/3 of Albertans weren't irresponsible. They did everything in their power to avoid the present day situation. Of course now that the PC fanboys are feeling a little bit ashamed, they want everyone to share in the blame.

I have to disagree with this. While on the surface, you may be able to say they share no responsibility, I think its wrong to assume that 1/3 would have been more responsible. That comment just reaks of left-wing arrogance.

Every person in Alberta is to blame. From those pushing for lower taxes to those advocating higher spending on health care, education, environment, etc. regardless of political affiliation. We have all benefited from low taxes and high spending, and we will all have to suffer through the correction.

I for one agree with Prentice. I think every political party in Alberta would have fell into the same trap over the past decade. Heck, this isnt a local phenomenon, but is systemic in western democracies for the past 30 years, at least. Politicians have lived off the "low taxes, more spending" rhetoric for decades and we need to change that.

[White Out 403]

My favourite part of all this will be that the good people of Alberta will simply vote Prentice and the Conservatives to a sweeping majority next chance they get.

Horribly mis-managed province , but, hey Conservatives are better with budgets than NDP and Liberals right?

..Right?

Albertans get exactly what they deserve with this party of high spending, low taxing clowns.

[wooohooo]

What about the amount we are paying Physicians?

It seems utterly ridiculous how much we spend paying them. They are a very important part of society and with the amount of Education for sure they should be well compensated. But to the amount they make, seems almost... unfair. In fact they just got a raise a month ago.

If there's anything that'll put us more in debt it's healthcare spending especially to Doctors. I have a lot (over 8) physicians in my family and they all agree that the system is broken, but they'll milk the system while it is.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

What about the amount we are paying Physicians?

It seems utterly ridiculous how much we spend paying them. They are a very important part of society and with the amount of Education for sure they should be well compensated. But to the amount they make, seems almost... unfair. In fact they just got a raise a month ago.

If there's anything that'll put us more in debt it's healthcare spending especially to Doctors. I have a lot (over 8) physicians in my family and they all agree that the system is broken, but they'll milk the system while it is.

I agree. Doctors are the issue here. Next we should see what we pay teachers.

Nevermind what tax loop holes and low tax rates business pays in Alberta. Those billions of dollars are just the price you pay for the Alberta advantage baby