2015 Alberta Budget Discussion

[V]

I thought I just got half my charitable donations back after the first 200 bucks. I also thought that was a federal taxation thing. What exactly is changing now with this budget?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Hmmm, Charitable donation tax credit is getting slashed too (21% to 12.27%).

The charitable donation credit should be tied to the political contribution credit, same rate. One of my personal pet peeves.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Hmmm, Charitable donation tax credit is getting slashed too (21% to 12.27%).

This really blows.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by pylon

I've always been on the fence about tax the wealthy more. Basically it penalizes success. I get the haves can contribute more. But without the success of a huge portion of the haves, the have-nots have nobody to work for.

Taxing the rich always just seems like petty jealousy to me.

Being rich in a country with sharp income disparities has its downsides. The poor have a way of getting their pound of flesh from the wealthy if they feel they aren't getting a fair shake, mainly through crime and the destruction of public facilities and spaces. Canada is a safe place today where the children of the wealthy can take public transit, go to a mall, or leave their cars parked without fear. That's not the case in a lot of countries where the rich live in gated communities, have to pay large sums for private education, and travel with bodyguards.

A progressive tax isn't about jealousy. It's a recognition that when you take a little from people who already have very little there are likely to be worse consequences for society as a whole than if you take a little from people who already have a lot.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

I don't think it will be a big issue.

Working in the charity sector, I found very few donors even knew about the Alberta Charity donation tax credit. People decide to donate because they believe in the cause, the amount of the charitable credit usually is secondary.

While it may discourage some donations, on a whole I agree with you and I don't think it will discourage that much. Most people don't make charitable donations for the tax credit, sure it's nice but it's not the sole driver of donations.

The big problem for charities will be the down turn in the economy and less people with income rather than the decrease in charitable giving tax credits.

[Acey]

People in Leduc and south Edmonton be lining up for gas right now like the world is ending at midnight. #thanksPrentice

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Acey

People in Leduc and south Edmonton be lining up for gas right now like the world is ending at midnight. #thanksPrentice

haha, losers. Its $0.04/litre. You have to have an enormous vehicle to have that cause you that much concern.

[metallicat]

You tax the rich more because it hurts them less than it does the middle and lower class people to get tax hikes. Same as the BS 5% salary reduction for politicians. Cut 5% from my pay cheque and I'll feel it badly, cut it from the politicians and they might have to think twice about that second or third daily Starbucks.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

haha, losers. Its $0.04/litre. You have to have an enormous vehicle to have that cause you that much concern.

It's a 9 cent/litre increases from 4 cents to 13 cents tomorrow.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Slava

haha, losers. Its $0.04/litre. You have to have an enormous vehicle to have that cause you that much concern.

Well I mean if you were filling up tomorrow for a trip, might as well do it tonight is all.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by darklord700

It's a 9 cent/litre increases from 4 cents to 13 cents tomorrow.

No, it's an increase from 9 to 13 cents.

http://alberta.ca/budget-revenue-explained.cfm

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by lambeburger

Breakdown of the booze hikes http://aglc.ca/pdf/quickfacts/markup_rates_schedule.pdf

Wait so a 40% 750 ml bottle of rum that is currently $20 will be $20+(.75*$13.52)=$30.14

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Wait so a 40% 750 ml bottle of rum that is currently $20 will be $20+(.75*$13.52)=$30.14

No, most of that markup was already in place on the $20 bottle. The increase is only about 16 cents for 750mL.

http://aglc.ca/pdf/liquor/MarkupIncr...csCombined.pdf

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Acey

Well I mean if you were filling up tomorrow for a trip, might as well do it tonight is all.

I guess that's true, but a picture I saw had all kinds of cars and a mix of vehicles there. Basically a lot of these cars are small enough that the savings are about $2, and the trucks might be saving like $5. I'm cheap and frugal, but I wouldn't sit in line for an hour to save that kind of money.

The real irony is how many of those people will be thrilled to save that money and then still stop for a fancy coffee for that same amount this morning. That's frugality at its finest right there.

[Slava]

I should say (and I saw this point on twitter), that it isn't right that these things came into effect last night when the budget hasn't been passed and isn't law at this point. While I personally have no issue with the taxes and proposals in general, there's a special kind of arrogance when you haven't voted this through yet. What if they call an election and lose? Apparently no other party would support these measures. That part rubs me the wrong way.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Slava

I should say (and I saw this point on twitter), that it isn't right that these things came into effect last night when the budget hasn't been passed and isn't law at this point. While I personally have no issue with the taxes and proposals in general, there's a special kind of arrogance when you haven't voted this through yet. What if they call an election and lose? Apparently no other party would support these measures. That part rubs me the wrong way.

You can't lose when you have no one running against you. As much as I'd like a solid opposition or even a minority gov't, PCs are unstoppable right now. Left needs to get its act together.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ducay

You can't lose when you have no one running against you. As much as I'd like a solid opposition or even a minority gov't, PCs are unstoppable right now. Left needs to get its act together.

I know and agree. I just wonder if its really even legal though. Like if I got a speeding ticket today for the new amount I would fight it for sure just based on the fact that you can't just decide to increase the fines and not actually have it come into law, right? Maybe they just assume its a formality and everything and it probably is, but that's just not how our system works.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

I should say (and I saw this point on twitter), that it isn't right that these things came into effect last night when the budget hasn't been passed and isn't law at this point. While I personally have no issue with the taxes and proposals in general, there's a special kind of arrogance when you haven't voted this through yet. What if they call an election and lose? Apparently no other party would support these measures. That part rubs me the wrong way.

PC has the majority and couldn't they just pass the budget before calling an election?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

PC has the majority and couldn't they just pass the budget before calling an election?

Right, but the point is that the budget isn't passed. For all they know maybe enough of their own dislike it and vote against it. Like I say, I'm sure its a formality and I don't even disagree with the budget in its current form because its all fine. I do think that just deciding to start applying it before its officially law is wrong though.

[darklord700]

After thinking about the budget last night, what is clear is that the Prentice government gave us a budget that increases taxes and generates massive deficit. Just like the Redford governement gave us massive deficits but without increasing taxes. I can't believe I'm now saying I like two book Horner's budgets more than Campbell's.

Seriously, this budget achieves nothing. When oil prices go back up, we'll be left with smaller deficits and the higher taxes will remain. Prentice didn't offend the under $50K income earners but made enermies with everyone making more then $50K and the public sector.

The tactical mistakes, if I may call it, are not increasing corporate rate and not returning to the old health care premium model. He is now seen as clearly favor the big corporate as they are they only one not getting any tax hikes.

And if they just go back to the old premium model, it'll be easier to stomach for most as we had been paying the premium just a few years back anyway. With this budget, he secured the corporate campaign fund for him and his party but I think his lustre has worn off.

I think the Libs or NDP could win a few seats from them particularly in Edmonton. After 40 years, I feel that this tired old PC party's mandate is to do whatever neccessary to hang on to power and not what is good for this province.