May 2015 Provincial Election Thread v2

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sure, its not 'much' higher than 'some' other provinces (Sask). And yet it is 'much' higher than 'most' other provinces.

https://www.nursesunions.ca/sites/de...arison.e_0.pdf

Its not the total solution, but its a start. As I've said, and reiterated many times, the private sector cannot be expected to bare the burden alone in regards to wage decreases and job losses.

Have you factored the Edmonton premium into your equation?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Have you factored the Edmonton premium into your equation?

Well...in my equation we should ship all teachers and nurses out of Edmonton, the teachers have done all they can to no avail and if we eliminate all Health Care staff then we can just sort of let nature take care of the rest.

[Flash Walken]

Thinking of Edmonton as a provincial tailing pond is pretty funny.

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by Locke

That was the idea, but the steady employment is now iron-clad, you have to commit an intermediate felony to lose your job, the benefits have spiraled wildly out of control and the 'lower-wage' part is just flat-out untrue.

Cutting wages and benefits isnt a bad idea, its becoming such an issue that its very soon going to be critical.

As of 6 months ago the wage part is true. As a plumber I would have taken a pay cut from the private sector going into the public sector. I am still wondering if you are all for obscene bonuses for all public employees when times are good.

The reason the jobs are secure is due to the strong union, that's a completely different issue. As for benefits, I don't see that the public sectors benefits are out of control, I do see the private sectors as diminishing.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

As of 6 months ago the wage part is true. As a plumber I would have taken a pay cut from the private sector going into the public sector. I am still wondering if you are all for obscene bonuses for all public employees when times are good.

The reason the jobs are secure is due to the strong union, that's a completely different issue. As for benefits, I don't see that the public sectors benefits are out of control, I do see the private sectors as diminishing.

Sure, you may have taken a minor pay cut but you also would have had a significant increase in benefits and probably been eligible for a pension.

Obscene bonuses for the public sector? Well theres two issues there but lets take a page out of your playbook shall we?

I'm not exactly sure what 'obscene' is in your mind but after looking at the numbers you're talking about large bonuses to a very small group of people.

And secondly bonuses are derived from performance, in most metrics we have the highest paid, least efficient and poorest performing public sector so they wouldnt qualify.

And if you dont think public sector benefits arent spiraling out of control then you havent been paying attention.

[nik-]

I want to know more about these obscene plumber bonuses.

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sure, its not 'much' higher than 'some' other provinces (Sask). And yet it is 'much' higher than 'most' other provinces.

https://www.nursesunions.ca/sites/de...arison.e_0.pdf

Its not the total solution, but its a start. As I've said, and reiterated many times, the private sector cannot be expected to bare the burden alone in regards to wage decreases and job losses.

Isn't that the case with most jobs on Alberta though? We have a higher wage than most other provinces but it's also more expensive to live here than most other provinces.

And reading aboUT people wanting EI extensions is laughable. People have almost a year to find work, if they can't find work in that time frame then an extra 6 months isn't going to help them. It's laziness.

[northcrunk]

I would be shocked if the NDP won this bi-election:

NDP candidate’s comment about oil and gas factually incorrect

Though at 25 per cent of the GDP, energy still makes up the largest portion

http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary...incorrect.html

NDP candidate Roop Rai’s comments about oil and gas don’t add up.

During an interview on Sunday, Rai — who’s running in the Calgary Greenway byelection — said the province wholeheartedly relies on oil and gas.

“Right now we’re 100 per cent reliant on oil and gas,” she said. “One hundred per cent reliant on one commodity - that model just doesn’t work.”

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sure, you may have taken a minor pay cut but you also would have had a significant increase in benefits and probably been eligible for a pension.

Obscene bonuses for the public sector? Well theres two issues there but lets take a page out of your playbook shall we?

I'm not exactly sure what 'obscene' is in your mind but after looking at the numbers you're talking about large bonuses to a very small group of people.

And secondly bonuses are derived from performance, in most metrics we have the highest paid, least efficient and poorest performing public sector so they wouldnt qualify.

And if you dont think public sector benefits arent spiraling out of control then you havent been paying attention.

And here I thought I read that the lower wage part was just flat out untrue......

Can you please show me some data to back up your claim in regards to the lowest performing public sector. I'm skeptical to say the least.

As far as big bonuses for the private sector, are you saying that bonuses weren't handed out to most employees in the oil and gas sector prior to the price of oil going down? Sure they are " performance" based, yet it's not hard to hit those metrics during a boom.

As I said, I think the private sectors benefits are la king rather than the public sector being out of control.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Isn't that the case with most jobs on Alberta though? We have a higher wage than most other provinces but it's also more expensive to live here than most other provinces.

And reading aboUT people wanting EI extensions is laughable. People have almost a year to find work, if they can't find work in that time frame then an extra 6 months isn't going to help them. It's laziness.

What? No. It absolutely is not laziness its the fact that their area of expertise isnt hiring.

It takes more than a year to just become an expert at something else.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

I would be shocked if the NDP won this bi-election:

NDP candidate’s comment about oil and gas factually incorrect

Though at 25 per cent of the GDP, energy still makes up the largest portion

http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary...incorrect.html

They never said it made up 100% of our GDP. They said we are 100% reliant on it. Which is largely true. Many PC supporters here trot out again and again how we have to help the oil patch as it effects every industry, particularly in this province, and even more so in this city. And it's true, it does.

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by Locke

What? No. It absolutely is not laziness its the fact that their area of expertise isnt hiring.

It takes more than a year to just become an expert at something else.

So find a different field of work until something comes up in the field of expertise. This is what normal people have to do when they get let go due to a lack of demand for their skills......

[peter12]

Ugh, why does every NDP candidate remind me of that person who know one really knew, but joined your circle of friends at the bar every so often, and then, would just be so weird, and anti-social, and start some sort of awful, awkward argument that would make everyone feel slimy and empty?

[nik-]

you've had a terrible life peter12

you need a hug

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

So find a different field of work until something comes up in the field of expertise. This is what normal people have to do when they get let go due to a lack of demand for their skills......

But then why bother electing the NDP if they arent going to take care of you? Isnt that the point?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by peter12

Ugh, why does every NDP candidate remind me of that person who know one really knew, but joined your circle of friends at the bar every so often, and then, would just be so weird, and anti-social, and start some sort of awful, awkward argument that would make everyone feel slimy and empty?

I don't know. In my experience that's usually been the weirdo extreme libertarians.

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by Locke

But then why bother electing the NDP if they arent going to take care of you? Isnt that the point?

The same people that want pay cuts from the public sector want EI extensions....maybe we need to look at who the real problem is. One group is paying taxes and the other is asking for more money from the government while paying nothing. Maybe they should look at cutting the EI payments down to 6 months to stop the freeloaders sitting at home complaining about the NDP.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

The same people that want pay cuts from the public sector want EI extensions....maybe we need to look at who the real problem is. One group is paying taxes and the other is asking for more money from the government while paying nothing. Maybe they should look at cutting the EI payments down to 6 months to stop the freeloaders sitting at home complaining about the NDP.

Okay, I dont even know what your point is anymore.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm so fricken lost in this thread now.

Its crossed the border into the twilight zone.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

The same people that want pay cuts from the public sector want EI extensions....maybe we need to look at who the real problem is. One group is paying taxes and the other is asking for more money from the government while paying nothing. Maybe they should look at cutting the EI payments down to 6 months to stop the freeloaders sitting at home complaining about the NDP.

Umm, EI is considered taxable income. Not to mention if you do find another job, they'll claw back some of the EI benefits you received if you make over a certain amount for the year.