Alberta Politics Thread

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Ambitious throne speech. Either they found a genie to grant wishes or... Buckle up.

http://www.alberta.ca/throne-speech.cfm

theres a few ideological moves to unionize and nationalize (provincialize?) lots of tax and spend stuff, a few potentially good ideas if they do them well, and a couple of puzzlers. What are they doing with the securities commission and credit unions? Pretty sure neither of those need legislation to change their business practices.

[Slava]

I sent an email to my MLA in hopes of getting some information. I'm not surprised about the nationalization angle, but I wonder what they are planning on the "modernization" side of things.

[CaptainCrunch]

This is just so much Pixie Dust and bird feathers.

The biggest thing that they should do and I agree with Kevin O'Leary is to treat the Carbon Tax as a hedge fund. Separate it out of general revenue accounts, and publish on line reports on how much its collecting and what its being spent on.

They keep calling it everything except what it is, a tax.

They were also light on the public finances, oh they'll be careful and thoughtful. But I have trouble buying that based on what we've seen so far.

I'd be interested to see what your MLA says.

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This is just so much Pixie Dust and bird feathers.

The biggest thing that they should do and I agree with Kevin O'Leary is to treat the Carbon Tax as a hedge fund. Separate it out of general revenue accounts, and publish on line reports on how much its collecting and what its being spent on.

They keep calling it everything except what it is, a tax.

They were also light on the public finances, oh they'll be careful and thoughtful. But I have trouble buying that based on what we've seen so far.

I'd be interested to see what your MLA says.

Are they not calling it a "Carbon tax"? Is that not calling it a tax?

[codfather]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Are they not calling it a "Carbon tax"? Is that not calling it a tax?

No, the government is referring to it as "carbon pricing" and "carbon pricing revenue". The word 'tax' is not used by the government.

http://www.alberta.ca/climate-carbon-pricing.cfm

[CaptainCrunch]

And a carbon levy

[Resolute 14]

Are they still pretending it is "revenue neutral" too?

[Locke]

That was a speech from the throne alright. You could almost hear the flush in the background.

[peter12]

So glad that I am leaving this province before Immortan Joe takes over.

[CaptainCrunch]

As long as Notley herself looks at me and then carries me personally to the gates of Valhalla all shiny and chrome then everything is good.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by peter12

So glad that I am leaving this province before Immortan Joe takes over.

He actually might be an upgrade.

[robaur]

Originally Posted by Locke

Couldnt agree more. But the taxes have gone up already, but the spending, from an already unsustainable level, has continued to go up.

So someone in power disagrees with you, or at the very least feels that they're going to leave the party early and not be responsible for helping to pay the bill.

Lol. taxes have already gone up?

I'm paying about an extra $180 this year based on the new rates and its in a high income bracket.

Next year...I think I might have to fork over an extra $500...

Most folks still make less than $125K so a majority of people's tax rates are still the same....

But for me? Extra $500? lol that's hardly going to change my standard of living.

and....you're an accountant....complain much over nothing.

[robaur]

Lol and anyone still against a carbon tax needs to catch up to the fact that it's 2016 and the entire world is accepting this approach.

"The consensus among top economists on this point is as strong as the consensus among scientists that climate change is real and greenhouse gas emissions contribute to it."

http://www.macleans.ca/economy/econo...as-carbon-tax/

There is pretty much unanimous agreement among economists that a carbon tax is needed and its not even close anymore. There was a study done where 87% of economists that replied Agreed or Strongly Agreed to implementing a carbon tax.

Get your head out of the sand. I just see a bunch of old, disgruntled folk here who are just sour that the corrupt PC train-ride is over.

I might not agree with everything that the NDP government might do, but I would rather have them in power than the corrupt PC's and the extremist crazy party known as the Wildrose...who really have nothing to offer this province except for media quotes.

[indes]

If you actually read the thread people aren't complaining so much about the tax itself. It's the fact that the NDP is charging for carbon use and the idea is to use that money to reduce pollution and be put towards other environmental endeavours. With the money going right into the general tax revenue pile it's pretty easy to look at this as a money grab with no chance of accountability or transparence. BC has the right idea with implementation of the carbon tax.

I think at this point though the NDP has to look at any option to grab more money while attempting to keep their base happy, which is completely ####ed because it has nothing to do with running a province.

[Fuzz]

My other issue with the carbon tax is we are kneecapping ourselves against our competitors. I can't think of any other oil producing nation with them, and it means Quebec can keep getting their cheap oil with no incentive to maybe consider it would be better to get it from Canada. The US will buy less of our oil because it will be more expensive.

Also, robaur, the entire world isn't rolling out carbon taxes. China plans to do nothing until 2030. None of the developing world is doing it. The US doesn't hae a carbon tax plan. It's OK to argue a point, but be honest about it.

[PsYcNeT]

China, the US, and the devloping world: a definitive group moral compass worth emulating.

[llwhiteoutll]

There should not be subsidies based on income either. If they want to be serious about it, then everyone pays based on the same criteria, give out the tax breaks based on actual things done to reduce carbon use. Subsidize bus passes, carpooling, installing energy efficient appliances. Don't just say that you'll pay less based on whatbyor income is.

[Fuzz]

Why? If you are low income and have to pay carbon taxes on heating and electricity, then you end up having to cut something, weather its going cold, less meals for your kids etc. That sounds a little cruel just to claim some moral high ground on carbon, don't you think?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by robaur

Lol. taxes have already gone up?

I'm paying about an extra $180 this year based on the new rates and its in a high income bracket.

Next year...I think I might have to fork over an extra $500...

Most folks still make less than $125K so a majority of people's tax rates are still the same....

But for me? Extra $500? lol that's hardly going to change my standard of living.

and....you're an accountant....complain much over nothing.

Are you really such an NDP shill that you are going to try to dispute Locke's assertion that Notley has raised taxes by demonstrating how Notley has raised taxes?

[Resolute 14]

The former head of Alberta's electricity Balancing Pool says Notley's early phase out on coal power could cost us up to $500 million per year.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...500m-1.3484565