Alberta Election Thread - Election Day April 16 2019

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Stop spending billions more than they receive without tax after tax being raised or implemented, and i will move them to the center.

But the UCP hasn't presented a credible plan for a balanced budget either. The deficit is so huge it will take substantial cuts in spending and substantial tax increases to balance the provincial budget.

A party that looks at a province with the lowest tax regime in the country and a massive structural deficit and says tax increases are off the table is not being realistic. It's just playing the populist card, and hoping energy royalties will come gushing back into provincial coffers and push the tough decisions down the road another 10 years.

[Johnny Makarov]

Well i'm still conceding the win to Mouse Turd Kenney.

The only good that may come out of his reign is that he is arrogant enough to implement a PST. Which would be great, but political suicide, and only he would be dumb enough to it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

But the UCP hasn't presented a credible plan for a balanced budget either. The deficit is so huge it will take substantial cuts in spending and substantial tax increases to balance the provincial budget.

A party that looks at a province with the lowest tax regime in the country and a massive structural deficit and says tax increases are off the table is not being realistic. It's just playing the populist card, and hoping energy royalties will come gushing back into provincial coffers and push the tough decisions down the road another 10 years.

The NDP has built higher royalty revenues than anyone else.

I'm not under any illusion that the UCP will magically fix things, cause they won't nor can they.

I do expect that they will be substantially much better stewards of the economy than the NDP though. They will make necessary cuts to services that the NDP will refuse to. They will pare down the grossly bloated public service sector where it is feasible. They will not implement programs that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to replace household light bulbs and thermostats and shower heads. They will not implement a new tax on Albertans that they did not campaign on....Etc etc.

It will take time for sure...more than one term IMO.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by transplant99

They will not implement a new tax on Albertans that they did not campaign on

And unfortunately they're certainly not telling Albertans that one is waiting for them as soon as they remove the Alberta carbon tax. This is something I'd be shouting to the rafters if I was every other party.

I would say that a new tax is being implemented - the Federal carbon tax. But I doubt the UCP will say that publicly to voters who just want to "rah rah" their way through a carbon tax killing feel-good moment.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

But the UCP hasn't presented a credible plan for a balanced budget either. The deficit is so huge it will take substantial cuts in spending and substantial tax increases to balance the provincial budget.

A party that looks at a province with the lowest tax regime in the country and a massive structural deficit and says tax increases are off the table is not being realistic. It's just playing the populist card, and hoping energy royalties will come gushing back into provincial coffers and push the tough decisions down the road another 10 years.

We should totally give the party that put us into a untenable financial mess another shot then.

[woob]

It's so utterly hilarious and at the same time depressing that people who think the same party who rode the resource rollercoaster for 40 years and were terrible stewards of the Heritage fund will somehow make the right choices now and steer us in the right direction. Yes, I know, the UCP are not the PCs, but we all know the truth to that statement.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by woob

It's so utterly hilarious and at the same time depressing that people who think the same party who rode the resource rollercoaster for 40 years and were terrible stewards of the Heritage fund will somehow make the right choices now and steer us in the right direction. Yes, I know, the UCP are not the PCs, but we all know the truth to that statement.

It's so utterly hilarious and at the same time depressing that people who think the PC party under union-backed leaders Stelmach and Redford was the same party as under Klein. As the PC party moved ever-leftward the provincial finances became a disaster and it ultimately bred the creation of the Wildrose which was the only fiscally conservative option for years.

It remains to be seen if the new UCP will actually govern more like Klein, but many of the ultra-red tories and specifically the union leadership are back behind the AP and the NDP respectively.

[Shazam]

It is a testament to the parochiality of some people to think that Alberta is the only place in the universe that is subject to economic contraction.

Would the Heritage Fund even exist if the current mindset of spending and expansion of the public service was the thinking back then?

Other provinces don't even have anything like a Heritage Fund. What the hell are we even doing with it? We should set it on fire, or give it to Ontario. They're the best at everything.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

And unfortunately they're certainly not telling Albertans that one is waiting for them as soon as they remove the Alberta carbon tax. This is something I'd be shouting to the rafters if I was every other party.

I would say that a new tax is being implemented - the Federal carbon tax. But I doubt the UCP will say that publicly to voters who just want to "rah rah" their way through a carbon tax killing feel-good moment.

Sorry...but the federal carbon tax wont be "new", it will only replace an existing one. One that Albertans have already been paying much longer than necessary to garner absolutely nothing in return.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Sorry...but the federal carbon tax wont be "new", it will only replace an existing one. One that Albertans have already been paying much longer than necessary to garner absolutely nothing in return.

Maybe someone should ask Kenney what Albertans can expect with regards to whether a "carbon tax" still has to be paid as soon as he repeals it in the Legislature. I doubt many Albertans are under the impression that "killing a carbon tax" doesn't actually kill a carbon tax. But I doubt the UCP would state this directly. They need their "feel good" moment for populist sentiment.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Maybe someone should as Kenney what Albertans can expect with regards to whether a "carbon tax" still has to be paid as soon as he repeals it in the Legislature. I doubt many Albertans are under the impression that "killing a carbon tax" doesn't actually kill a carbon tax. But I doubt the UCP would state this directly. They need their "feel good" moment for populist sentiment.

He specifically addressed that last night when he said they would join Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick in their fight against it with the feds that claims it violates constitutional law. This is all part and parcel of the fight with Ottawa that has to be waged.

Did you think he was saying he would kill the Alberta carbon tax and then use Alberta resources to fight for the other provinces?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Maybe someone should ask Kenney what Albertans can expect with regards to whether a "carbon tax" still has to be paid as soon as he repeals it in the Legislature. I doubt many Albertans are under the impression that "killing a carbon tax" doesn't actually kill a carbon tax. But I doubt the UCP would state this directly. They need their "feel good" moment for populist sentiment.

Spoiler!

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He specifically addressed that last night when he said they would join Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick in their fight against it with the feds that claims it violates constitutional law. This is all part and parcel of the fight with Ottawa that has to be waged.

Did you think he was saying he would kill the Alberta carbon tax and then use Alberta resources to fight for the other provinces?

No, he's saying he's going to go kill the Carbon Tax. As simple as that. Joining a fight against the Feds doesn't get rid of the carbon tax, nor guarantee it. His message - verbatim - is, "My first act of business is to kill the Carbon Tax." That is his punchline, that is his message. He's been waxing poetic about it for months now.

I propose we look at it this way:

When Kenney fires the missile at the Carbon Tax on Day One, it will create a huge debris field, lots of smoke, chaos, and confusion. They'll have a "direct hit" moment like in Independence Day, and congratulate each other on a job well done. Mission accomplished, Albertans are safe from the Carbon Tax monster the Alberta NDP created.

Then, when Albertans look through the periscope, when the dust settles . . .

They'll see the carbon tax is still there.

And they'll wonder what the hell just happened. They thought it would be gone.

I hope Kenney and UCP folks enjoy their "direct hit" moment. Because it's fleeting at best.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Sorry...but the federal carbon tax wont be "new", it will only replace an existing one. One that Albertans have already been paying much longer than necessary to garner absolutely nothing in return.

It garnered much needed tax revenues in the lowest taxed province in the country. It is a PST. The UCP should take the revenue win and balance the budget faster or just remit all revenue to people in the form of lower income tax

[J epworth]

The one threat I don't understand is the constitutional referendum to change equalization. If you feel like its an issue that requires a referendum, say that. To hold it as vague threat if pipelines don't get built seems to me the same as Trump going "I'm going to announce a national emergency on the borders in a couple weeks." If its an emergency, announce the emergency, and if you feel like equalization is unconstitutional, have the referendum. Why is it only a big deal if you don't get your way on another topic?

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

It's so utterly hilarious and at the same time depressing that people who think the PC party under union-backed leaders Stelmach and Redford was the same party as under Klein.

Can you give us a little warning if you’re going to post something that funny? I almost spat my tea out all over my phone.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

No, he's saying he's going to go kill the Carbon Tax. As simple as that. Joining a fight against the Feds doesn't get rid of the carbon tax, nor guarantee it. His message - verbatim - is, "My first act of business is to kill the Carbon Tax." That is his punchline, that is his message. He's been waxing poetic about it for months now.

I propose we look at it this way:

When Kenney fires the missile at the Carbon Tax on Day One, it will create a huge debris field, lots of smoke, chaos, and confusion. They'll have a "direct hit" moment like in Independence Day, and congratulate each other on a job well done. Mission accomplished, Albertans are safe from the Carbon Tax monster the Alberta NDP created.

Then, when Albertans look through the periscope, when the dust settles . . .

They'll see the carbon tax is still there.

And they'll wonder what the hell just happened. They thought it would be gone.

I hope Kenney and UCP folks enjoy their "direct hit" moment. Because it's fleeting at best.

A carbon tax will be there, not the Alberta carbon tax.

The Alberta carbon tax will be gone...period. Bill 1 of their governance.

The federal carbon tax will then have to be implemented by the Liberals onto Alberta. Period. No idea how that occurs, but they have to formally put it into action fron what i understand.

Then the populace can decide if its a good idea with the federal election coming in October or sooner. It is being argued, right now, by other provinces that the feds have niether the jurisdiction nor the mandate to put a price on carbon.

Not sure what else you are prattling on about to obfuscate things, but those are the facts.

[CaptainCrunch]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1114198574475042817


With 11 days to go, the NDP need some kind of bump. I don't think this includes the debate shifts.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Is there a strategic voting website for this election? Something that breaks down the polling per riding so you know who has best chance to beat out another candidate.

[stone hands]

what % of people when asked if UCP is going to repeal the carbon tax think that means there will be no more carbon tax period