Alberta Election Thread - Election Day April 16 2019

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

That's more a position statement than anything, but what particularly about it upsets you? I am curious. It would seem that the Alberta Party is demanding the same equitable treatment that Quebec would be receiving, plus the ability to collect and distribute the Alberta personal income tax portion within Alberta and without doing it directly through the Feds.

It's not that it upsets me, it's just plainly pointless. The federal government collects the taxes, and we get that money back as a province. There's basically no cost for that, and no advantage to doing it ourselves.

And the Quebec scenario is interesting. They collect the GST for the feds, but they have a PST. Is the Alberta Party bringing one in and as a result bringing in that infrastructure as well? Otherwise what's the point?

So when they talk about all this money to build schools and hospitals, it sounds great. Only, there is no more money. Where would it come from? It's not like there's an $11bn drag on our taxes that the feds collect and funnel to Alberta. It's just made up.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

That's more a position statement than anything, but what particularly about it upsets you? I am curious. It would seem that the Alberta Party is demanding the same equitable treatment that Quebec would be receiving, plus the ability to collect and distribute the Alberta personal income tax portion within Alberta and without doing it directly through the Feds.

It seems to be implying that provincial taxes are currently going into federal coffers simply because they're being collected and administered by CRA. That seems... fundamentally incorrect.

Ending the tax collection agreement would - it seems to me - just create a new bureaucracy in Alberta and increase administration costs within the province - which is pretty much confirmed by the page itself, which states that it will "create 4000 new jobs". It all just sounds like a silly waste of money.

[Ozy_Flame]

Yes, I do think it's fair to ask where the advantage lies over the current existing tax handling situation. There should be a discernible advantage to doing so, other than "because we can".

That said, they do say "It will also give the provincial government more tax policy flexibility, enabling it to pursue creative tax credits and incentives." I would probably be asking your local AP candidate about this.

They also say the following on the same page:

"Moving the collection of all taxes Albertans pay to the control of the Alberta government would mean those taxes are collected by Albertans rather than employees in the rest of Canada. This will create approximately 4,000 new positions into Alberta."

Who knows if that is feasible or not. I would challenge that too. I'm going to ask my AP candidate about this, if not just reach out to Greg Clark for context.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Muta

Wrong again, Slimer! That tax was a poorly executed cash grab that didn't work exclusive of reducing other taxes.

Not so much a cash grab as an inefficient wealth redistribution coated in obtaining "social license".

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Yes, I do think it's fair to ask where the advantage lies over the current existing tax handling situation. There should be a discernible advantage to doing so, other than "because we can".

That said, they do say "It will also give the provincial government more tax policy flexibility, enabling it to pursue creative tax credits and incentives." I would probably be asking your local AP candidate about this.

They also say the following on the same page:

"Moving the collection of all taxes Albertans pay to the control of the Alberta government would mean those taxes are collected by Albertans rather than employees in the rest of Canada. This will create approximately 4,000 new positions into Alberta."

Who knows if that is feasible or not. I would challenge that too. I'm going to ask my AP candidate about this, if not just reach out to Greg Clark for context.

I don't know. I just think it's poorly thought out and basically pie in the sky. "Hey everybody, we just made this one little change and found $11 billion dollars to build schools and hospitals that everyone else seems to be ignoring!"

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Muta

PST is something this province should be considering, regardless of party. It is a consumption tax, and if it can help reduce or prevent taxation in other areas, it's something worth discussing.

I am actually with David Khan on this one.

If I had my way I would implement a 15% HST and reduce the personal income tax altogether.

Think about all the free agents we could sign July 1st.

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by Slava

It's not that it upsets me, it's just plainly pointless. The federal government collects the taxes, and we get that money back as a province. There's basically no cost for that, and no advantage to doing it ourselves.

And the Quebec scenario is interesting. They collect the GST for the feds, but they have a PST. Is the Alberta Party bringing one in and as a result bringing in that infrastructure as well? Otherwise what's the point?

So when they talk about all this money to build schools and hospitals, it sounds great. Only, there is no more money. Where would it come from? It's not like there's an $11bn drag on our taxes that the feds collect and funnel to Alberta. It's just made up.

The only thing I could think of was that it says the Feds get to collect interest on the amount of Provincial income tax it keeps before redistributing to the provinces. It seems like alot to me though.

I dont mind the idea, but it just seems to smack of populism with little upside, and picking a fight with the Feds. Its as clear as day that ABP is targeting waffling UCP voters.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by stone hands

I really think this too. Ingrain it into kids heads at a young age that you should be saving for retirement and living within your means. Figure out what a budget actually is.

...
Kind of a tangent

We actually teach this, it is called math. Pretty sure everyone is taught compound interest in school which is about all you need to know to figure the rest out.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

We actually teach this, it is called math. Pretty sure everyone is taught compound interest in school which is about all you need to know to figure the rest out.

Kids shouldn't have to 'figure the rest out'. There's so much more to sound investment and financial management than just math.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Muta

Kids shouldn't have to 'figure the rest out'. There's so much more to sound investment and financial management than just math.

How can you realistically teach financial management when our entire election is parties bribing us with spending promises while we are already saddled with astronomical deficits and huge debt.

We should be requiring the NDP to attend economics classes before our students.

[Looch City]

Did y'all never have CALMs class?

Or has it been abolished these days?

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

We actually teach this, it is called math. Pretty sure everyone is taught compound interest in school which is about all you need to know to figure the rest out.

Its really not. Most people grow up in an environment where likely every adult they interact with has every dollar of their paychek(many times, more than they actually get paid) earmarked for monthly expenses that they dont really need and can't really afford. We live in a country where less than half of the population has 10k in savings and having thousands of dollars of non-mortgage consumer debt is the norm. It's absolutely something that young people should be educated in.

There's far too many people in this country who have good paying jobs, but are absolutely hosed if the tap gets shut off for even one paycheck. If more people actually understood these things we would be in a much better place, and it goes beyond compound interest

[Muta]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

How can you realistically teach financial management when our entire election is parties bribing us with spending promises while we are already saddled with astronomical deficits and huge debt.

We should be requiring the NDP to attend economics classes before our students.

Dude, just shut up for a sec with your verbal political super soaking. Outside of political reference and in the context of the original suggestion, our students SHOULD be taught good financial management policies and investment strategies in school at an early age - doesn't matter who's in power. That type of knowledge should migrate from post-secondary business schools to Alberta's K-12's.

[btimbit]

Just mailed in my ballot

Bitching about the different parties aside, I'll always take a moment to appreciate that at least we have a say and a vote.

[PsYcNeT]

Hits keep on coming for the UCP

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113131560646062080

[mikephoen]

When I was in Junior High, me and a couple friends set up a money loaning business. We charged 10% interest per day. We taught the other kids a thing or two about financial management.

At least until the damn teachers shut us down.

I don't think my parents were even mad when they found out, haha.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

When I was in Junior High, me and a couple friends set up a money loaning business. We charged 10% interest per day. We taught the other kids a thing or two about financial management.

At least until the damn teachers shut us down.

I don't think my parents were even mad when they found out, haha.

lol. I did something similar. Parents found a bunch of cigarettes in my room. Weren't even mad when I explained I just got them from my older brother to re-sell at school for a ridiculous markup

[Ducay]

Its not the best position by far, but I'll take a UCP member with regressive/religious views on LGBT (not saying I agree) over the NDP destroying the economy any day of the week.

Pick your poison. For me, social regression over my career earnings being decimated is an easy pick.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Hits keep on coming for the UCP

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113131560646062080

To make matters worse, nothing says I’m sincere about this apology like 1) “sorry if people were offended,” and 2) including party boilerplate word-for-word.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113188117119406080

Edit: trying to get this twitter embed to work...

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

When I was in Junior High, me and a couple friends set up a money loaning business. We charged 10% interest per day. We taught the other kids a thing or two about financial management.

At least until the damn teachers shut us down.

I don't think my parents were even mad when they found out, haha.

I started a Ponzi scheme in the 6th grade self-assured that I was brilliant for thinking it up and not knowing it was already a thing. Fortunately, I'm a ####ty salesman and it didn't get off the ground.