Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I just looked at my riding's boundaries, and it looks like one of those gerrymandered districts in the US. I highly doubt it is, and I don't even know who sets the boundaries, I just thought it was interesting how specific portions of specific neighbourhoods are scooped in or out. Like why the jog to exclude a portion of 33rd Ave while a similar sized block dips down into Lakeview?

I assume it's based on an algorithm trying to find a certain number of people per riding, it's just curious.

We don't have gerrymandering here as the boundaries are drawn and evaluated by independent commissions.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Legit question,

How many of the many people complaining and worried on this forum are out campaigning for the NDP candidates in their area?

Yes

Sign on the lawn?

Yes

Social media presence sharing up to date information on UCP tactics and lies?

Yes, although to be fair my social media presence is pretty tiny but doing what I can.

Heading to forums to ask questions of all the candidates?

Not yet, probably should I know.

Holding UCP candidates accountable?

I have contacted the main party contacts as well as my MLA specifically to let them know why I went from someone who voted, had a sign and volunteered for the party last election to doing the exact opposite now. Not sure if that is holding the candidate accountable but it let them know exactly why they lost my votes in terms of the policies they supported, rhetoric they spread and people involved in the party that lost my vote.

Just wondering. It is really doom and gloom and angry rhetoric in here, and seem to be very few trying to do anything to help.

Based on my driving around my city and a quick trip to Calgary I think if signs are enough to do something than it is more than angry rhetoric.

Go DO something about it.

I am trying but I guess we can always do more.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I just looked at my riding's boundaries, and it looks like one of those gerrymandered districts in the US. I highly doubt it is, and I don't even know who sets the boundaries, I just thought it was interesting how specific portions of specific neighbourhoods are scooped in or out. Like why the jog to exclude a portion of 33rd Ave while a similar sized block dips down into Lakeview?

I assume it's based on an algorithm trying to find a certain number of people per riding, it's just curious.

It's all here. There's a formal process to review boundaries and adjust periodically when necessary.

https://www.elections.ab.ca/resource...es-commission/

[Flames0910]

How many of the many people complaining and worried on this forum are out campaigning for the NDP candidates in their area?

Haven't been out door-knocking but I did donate.

Sign on the lawn?

Two. One big one and one little one.

The big one was vandalized yesterday "LOL NO NO TYRANNY IN CANADA, ALBERTA" but it was written in pen and it's a giant sign so nobody can really see it. I plan to clean up the vandalism with an orange marker tonight lol.

Social media presence sharing up to date information on UCP tactics and lies?

I'm no influencer but I'm doing what I can.

Heading to forums to ask questions of all the candidates?

Hasn't been any in my riding. Pretty sure the UCP candidate won't show anyway.

Holding UCP candidates accountable?

How? By not voting for them?

Just wondering. It is really doom and gloom and angry rhetoric in here, and seem to be very few trying to do anything to help.

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. From what I've seen NDP supporters are super engaged and energized so not sure I agree with this take.

Most of you literally live in the battleground of this election.

The riding I live in should be an easy win for the NDP.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

IIRC, Hirsch is working for the NDP.

Correct, The NDP hires experts in their field then implements their recommendations even when they go against their ideology. This is how we want out politicians to develop policy.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by GGG

Correct, The NDP hires experts in their field then implements their recommendations even when they go against their ideology. This is how we want out politicians to develop policy.

Looks like Trevor Tombe disagrees quite a bit with the NDP/Hirsch budget:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1658505422691774464

[Fuzz]

I trust Tombe, so I'd want to ask him what would drive the reduction in tax base? Yes, companies could move to the US, but they probably already would have. Elsewhere in Canada 11% is still the lowest, so where would they flee to?


https://www.taxtips.ca/smallbusiness...rates-2021.htm


To me, 8% is leaving a lot of money on the table and doesn't make sense when comparing it to the rest of Canada, particularly because businesses don't have any PST related taxes, either.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I trust Tombe, so I'd want to ask him what would drive the reduction in tax base? Yes, companies could move to the US, but they probably already would have. Elsewhere in Canada 11% is still the lowest, so where would they flee to?


https://www.taxtips.ca/smallbusiness...rates-2021.htm


To me, 8% is leaving a lot of money on the table and doesn't make sense when comparing it to the rest of Canada, particularly because businesses don't have any PST related taxes, either.

It's marginal and more complex than companies moving in/out. Locke could probably explain better, but the rate will have an effect on how/where business allocate retained earnings/profit too

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Legit question,

How many of the many people complaining and worried on this forum are out campaigning for the NDP candidates in their area?

Sign on the lawn?

Social media presence sharing up to date information on UCP tactics and lies?

Heading to forums to ask questions of all the candidates?

Holding UCP candidates accountable?

Just wondering. It is really doom and gloom and angry rhetoric in here, and seem to be very few trying to do anything to help.

Most of you literally live in the battleground of this election.

Go DO something about it.

What have you been up to?

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I trust Tombe, so I'd want to ask him what would drive the reduction in tax base? Yes, companies could move to the US, but they probably already would have. Elsewhere in Canada 11% is still the lowest, so where would they flee to?


https://www.taxtips.ca/smallbusiness...rates-2021.htm


To me, 8% is leaving a lot of money on the table and doesn't make sense when comparing it to the rest of Canada, particularly because businesses don't have any PST related taxes, either.

A corporate tax increase would decrease the profits of the company, which would reduce capital gains/dividends or however else individuals may make money which may be taxed at similiar or higher rates. Or could mean less money to spend on new investment, etc. My mechanical, I'd guess he just means it shifts the tax burden one direction or the other, but doesn't really bring in more overall revenue.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by chedder

If you want a good laugh, check out The Breakdown twitter page. There are a bunch of short videos from the Livingstone Macleod forum last night.

The UCP candidate honestly can't put a coherent sentence together and 'believes' in anything that she thinks will get her elected. There can't be too many neurons firing inside that helmet.

https://twitter.com/TheBreakdownAB/s...tSnoHFaSQ&s=19

So much dumb it hurts to listen to her

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I trust Tombe, so I'd want to ask him what would drive the reduction in tax base? Yes, companies could move to the US, but they probably already would have. Elsewhere in Canada 11% is still the lowest, so where would they flee to?


https://www.taxtips.ca/smallbusiness...rates-2021.htm


To me, 8% is leaving a lot of money on the table and doesn't make sense when comparing it to the rest of Canada, particularly because businesses don't have any PST related taxes, either.

You might want to go check his twitter again. He made some more comments about it. And had a thread from someone else added.
Its not as simple as raising that tax directly leads to business leaving.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

What have you been up to?

What have you been up to?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

You might want to go check his twitter again. He made some more comments about it. And had a thread from someone else added.
Its not as simple as raising that tax directly leads to business leaving.

The point isn't just about business leaving. It's that there's a shrinkage of that tax base overall when you raise taxes (can be lots of reasons). I read that thread and Tombe isn't saying this is a bad idea. He's questioning whether the 3% increase leads to the straight gain that the NDP is projecting. He feels it doesn't, and that should be more in the 1-1.5bn amount as opposed to the 2.75bn they're projecting.

He flat out says that this doesn't mean it's bad policy, or shouldn't happen. It's just a question on whether the numbers are right.

[Torture]

Sign on the lawn?
Yup (Well, actually it's not here yet but on it's way)

Social media presence sharing up to date information on UCP tactics and lies?
Yup - and I have a half decent following on social media, although social media is an echo chamber where you're not changing anyone's mind. Better off getting out and talking to people in real life to be honest.

Heading to forums to ask questions of all the candidates?
Nah, they wouldn't answer honestly / a single question isn't going to do much to hold Smith or TBA to account. Kathleen Ganley is pretty safe in my riding anyways.

Holding UCP candidates accountable?
Aside from voting and the above, how?

Not in your list of questions above but I've donated to the NDP every year of this UCP term. Never donated to a political party before this government.

During the height of the proposed coal mining fiasco / defunding AB parks / Kananaskis pass I also blogged, fundraised, emailed my MLA (opposition) & UCP, and was interviewed by a few members of the media. Am I doing enough outside of this thread?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Slava

The point isn't just about business leaving. It's that there's a shrinkage of that tax base overall when you raise taxes (can be lots of reasons). I read that thread and Tombe isn't saying this is a bad idea. He's questioning whether the 3% increase leads to the straight gain that the NDP is projecting. He feels it doesn't, and that should be more in the 1-1.5bn amount as opposed to the 2.75bn they're projecting.

He flat out says that this doesn't mean it's bad policy, or shouldn't happen. It's just a question on whether the numbers are right.

You could at least get your numbers right...they project 2.3B.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I trust Tombe, so I'd want to ask him what would drive the reduction in tax base? Yes, companies could move to the US, but they probably already would have. Elsewhere in Canada 11% is still the lowest, so where would they flee to?


https://www.taxtips.ca/smallbusiness...rates-2021.htm


To me, 8% is leaving a lot of money on the table and doesn't make sense when comparing it to the rest of Canada, particularly because businesses don't have any PST related taxes, either.

Toombe’s isnot making a comment on the mechanism, we just know from experience that tax points are non-linear. So you can’t just divide by 8 and multiply by 11. In getting the range he references some frasier institute projections and also the NDP previous experience.

But we should be clear there is not a commentary on policy instead it’s stating the projection is non-conservative.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

What have you been up to?

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

What have you been up to?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

You could at least get your numbers right...they project 2.3B.

Sorry, I read it and didn’t go back to look. Regardless though, the point still stands.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

Michael Scott, now there’s a guy who actually went and DID something. Wasteofspace’s political hero.