Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I’m not an expert either, but have family who are in the medical profession, and my understanding from them is this is a myth. I found out because I expressed the same position you just did and was firmly corrected by people who know better than I do.

And it makes sense. Mutations are random; there is not likely to be any tendency for a virus to “weaken” in an epidemiological sense over time.

I'm not a professional, just an armchair analyst. But I think the causality is backwards in that argument. There are reason 2 main reasons that virus's can tend to less dangerous overtime is that our immune systems learn and prepare for similar infections(it's why vaccines work), and viruses that extremely dangerous can burn through the reachable population too quickly.

So while mutations are random, small mutations will lead to faster adaptation of the immune system, and natural selection tends towards virus's that have a good balance between transmissibility and severity. These are more effects of other processes and not rules that say virus have to safer over time

[Fuzz]

Did polio ever weaken over time?

[PepsiFree]

Every day I consider sharing my mistaken, limited understanding on a subject, I thank God she blessed me with basic media literacy and the ability to Google.

[woob]

Just don't use the Google AI answers as definitive (I don't think you would, but others do). I've had to give family members lessons on how the AI answers are not always accurate and shouldn't replace doing your own research.

Re: COVID vax - What I dont understand is how often have annual campaigns on getting flu shots, so why don't we just do similar for COVID shots?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by woob

Just don't use the Google AI answers as definitive (I don't think you would, but others do). I've had to give family members lessons on how the AI answers are not always accurate and shouldn't replace doing your own research.

Re: COVID vax - What I dont understand is how often have annual campaigns on getting flu shots, so why don't we just do similar for COVID shots?

Because we are governor by ideological morns who couldn't admit they were wrong about 5G in vaccines, so they've been doubling down on the stupidity to hold their ground. A covid vaccine is about the last symbolic thing they have to hold on to, so if they admit they were wrong about it being good for public health, they may virtually have to admit all their other policies opposing experts are also wrong.


The reality is, though, they don't even recognize they are wrong. They are too stupid. You can't expect stupid to fix stupid, which is why it's stupid to put them in charge, stupid.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Did polio ever weaken over time?

Again this with the disclaimer that I am not an expert, but one of the reason Polio, Chicken Pox, Measles were children's diseases is that they mutated relatively slowly, and infect naive populations. So if you were an adult with a history of exposure, and a successful recovery, then yes those virus's were very weak vs your immune system.

I'd also guess that over a long enough time frame the relative severity of the strains that were circulated ebbed and flowed, where they would hit some generations harder, and some less hard, because too strong of an infection would give the infected less time to spread the infection before causing death/ isolation... and too weak of an infection would allow for a positive immune response quickly before spreading, meaning the virus's between would be the ones to propagate.

[puffnstuff]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...ions-1.7580789

Albertans who receive payments under AISH, or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, who live in community housing where rent is set at 30 per cent of income will soon see the amount increase by $220 a month.#

Changes to the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation, approved by cabinet via orders-in-council in May and June, will result in an AISH#recipient who receives $1,901 a month paying $570 in rent. The current amount is $349 a month. The changes take effect Oct. 1 for new tenants or at an existing tenant's next annual rent review.#

[Fuzz]

Well ya, with a big budget surplus they had to cut somewhere, and the poor and disabled are an obvious target, the lazy freeloaders.


This is what responsible fiscal conservatism looks like. Punch down as hard as you dare. The cruelty is the point.

[direwolf]

Alberta Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, is on CBC right now getting grilled by reporters about the Alberta government's order forcing schools to remove all books depicting explicit material from their libraries by Oct. 1st. It's not going well for him. Just more stupid, embarrassing bulls*** from your friends at the UCP. Just one more step towards their goal of turning Alberta into the Florida of Canada.

More on this:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ules-1.7581787

The government has issued a list of specific sex acts that cannot be explicitly described in library books.

It considers mentions of kissing, hugging or hand-holding as not sexual in nature and not part of the ban.

Religious texts, such as the Bible, are also exempt.

Demetrios Nicolaides announced in May that Alberta would be setting new standards for the books.

He said the review came after his ministry became aware of four coming-of-age graphic novels in school libraries in Edmonton and Calgary.

Nicolaides said each of the books contained inappropriate content, including graphic sexual material as well as depictions of molestation, drug and alcohol use.

A government survey on the topic launched after Nicolaides's announcement found that the majority of respondents across demographics didn't support the government setting new standards for library books.

Critics have said the government seems more concerned about engaging in culture-war politics than student well-being, noting that each of the books Nicolaides said he was looking to take off shelves dealt with 2SLGBTQ+ subject matter.

[para transit fellow]

Did anyone mention that Dani is forcing every Albertan receiving AISH to register for the Canada Disability credit? As the Premier has already declared these funds will be treated as excess income and clawed back, AISH recipients are basically on the hook to pay the associated fees ( medical confirmation, etc) to be eligible fo rthe fed programs so Alberta can save $2400 / yr per AISH recipient

https://www.canadadisabilitybenefit....other-benefits

Edit the program is actually the Canadian Disability Benefit The Canadian Disability Credit is a different program HOWEVER both programs have common eligibility criteria

[Fuzz]

That's great, we finally get to weasel some of those transfer payments back, and the only people suffering from it will be the disabled! 'Berta! 'Berta! 'Berta!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

Did anyone mention that Dani is forcing every Albertan receiving AISH to register for the Canada Disability credit? As the Premier has already declared these funds will be treated as excess income and clawed back, AISH recipients are basically on the hook to pay the associated fees ( medical confirmation, etc) to be eligible fo rthe fed programs so Alberta can save $2400 / yr per AISH recipient

https://www.canadadisabilitybenefit....other-benefits

What? Can you elaborate a little? Because the Federal Disability Tax Credit is just that, a Tax Credit, it has to be applied against Taxable income.

Of which AISH is not.

If one were to collect AISH and have a DTC, the DTC would do absolutely nothing for that individual's Tax Burden. It could be transferred to a relative or caregiver though.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Perhaps its not about when they are moving it...but that they are moving coal mining equipment before they 'officially' have permission to mine. More along the lines of what Harry wrote

They are entitled by AER to do test drilling. Not sure what kind of equipment they moved up there. I’m sure they don’t want attention and did it at night to avoid a hostile reaction. Not sure what the end game is - they already know the coal there is poor quality compared to Elk Valley.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Locke

What? Can you elaborate a little? Because the Federal Disability Tax Credit is just that, a Tax Credit, it has to be applied against Taxable income.

Of which AISH is not.

If one were to collect AISH and have a DTC, the DTC would do absolutely nothing for that individual's Tax Burden. It could be transferred to a relative or caregiver though.

There is a new up to $200 a month payment from the feds for the disabled, but you have to qualify and meet income tests(which look to be fairly stringent). If your disability qualifies you, and you make so little survival is a challenge, you get the money. Except in Alberta, because Smith has decided since AISH pays out more than similar programs in other provinces, only AISH recipients will have that clawed back if the feds pay. Basically a way to take federal dollars back.


I haven't looked and compared provincial programs, but the reality is this is petty penny bull#### that exemplifies the cruelty of their point. And it's even grosser considering all the stuff they do waste money on that could have been cut instead, if the money was the point. But it's not. The cruelty is the point.


Imagine planning to have an extra $200 a month, the hopefulness of maybe being able to treat yourself to something small for the first time in a decade, or pay for a piece of equipment or medication that helps make your day just a little less ####, and then to have these ####os yank it back.


But hey, lightbulbs.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

There is a new up to $200 a month payment from the feds for the disabled, but you have to qualify and meet income tests(which look to be fairly stringent). If your disability qualifies you, and you make so little survival is a challenge, you get the money. Except in Alberta, because Smith has decided since AISH pays out more than similar programs in other provinces, only AISH recipients will have that clawed back if the feds pay. Basically a way to take federal dollars back.


I haven't looked and compared provincial programs, but the reality is this is petty penny bull#### that exemplifies the cruelty of their point. And it's even grosser considering all the stuff they do waste money on that could have been cut instead, if the money was the point. But it's not. The cruelty is the point.


Imagine planning to have an extra $200 a month, the hopefulness of maybe being able to treat yourself to something small for the first time in a decade, or pay for a piece of equipment or medication that helps make your day just a little less ####, and then to have these ####os yank it back.


But hey, lightbulbs.

Okay, stupid lightbulb quip aside because thats not getting old. I just did a quick search and...it appears that to be Eligible for this program at all, even from a Federal standpoint, you have to have a registered DTC regardless, so this doesnt look like an Alberta/UCP centric policy.

No DTC, no CDB, regardless of residency.

And I'm actually all for income testing it. With the loosening of regulations on the DTC I have clients who have been approved for all kinds of things both minor and major and are still perfectly capable of working and making a very good living.

That being said, I'd prefer income testing to be on a sliding scale, ie. if you're living off of AISH and that alone, maybe you should get more than $200/mo and if you're collecting AISH and working, maybe less.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Locke

Okay, stupid lightbulb quip aside because thats not getting old. I just did a quick search and...it appears that to be Eligible for this program at all, even from a Federal standpoint, you have to have a registered DTC regardless, so this doesnt look like an Alberta/UCP centric policy.

No DTC, no CDB, regardless of residency.

And I'm actually all for income testing it. With the loosening of regulations on the DTC I have clients who have been approved for all kinds of things both minor and major and are still perfectly capable of working and making a very good living.

That being said, I'd prefer income testing to be on a sliding scale, ie. if you're living off of AISH and that alone, maybe you should get more than $200/mo and if you're collecting AISH and working, maybe less.

You might want to read what I wrote again, and if you still don't get it, go do some more looking. The clawback is absolutely an Alberta specific thing, unless other provinces have caught on too.


But yes, you need to qualify for the DTC, but qualifying for the DTC doesn't not guarantee the payment.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Locke

What? Can you elaborate a little? Because the Federal Disability Tax Credit is just that, a Tax Credit, it has to be applied against Taxable income.

Of which AISH is not.

If one were to collect AISH and have a DTC, the DTC would do absolutely nothing for that individual's Tax Burden. It could be transferred to a relative or caregiver though.

From the link I provided

Each province or territory will establish its own policy regarding whether the CDB will clawback other social assistance programs. The following provinces and territories have announced that there will be no clawbacks:
British Columbia: Persons with Disabilities (PWD)

Manitoba: Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities

New Brunswick: All services under social assistance / Family Supports for Children with Disabilities Program / Disability Support Program / Long Term Care Program

Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador income supplement / Newfoundland and Labrador disability amount / Newfoundland and Labrador disability benefit

Nova Scotia: Income Assistance

Nunavut: Income Assistance

Ontario: Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) / Ontario Works / Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD)

Prince Edward Island: Assured Income and other social assistance

Quebec: Basic Income Program / Social Solidarity Program

Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID)

Yukon: Social assistance, including the Yukon Supplementary Allowance

Alberta is currently the only province/territory that has announced that it will be clawing back the CDB. This clawback will be made to payments under the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. The Alberta Government has indicated they will require AISH recipients to apply for the Canada Disability Benefit. We are waiting on explicit confirmation of any mandatory timeframe for people to apply, as well as whether those not yet approved for the Disability Tax Credit will be required to apply in order to keep their AISH benefits. We will update this webpage as soon as we have more information to support Albertans receiving AISH.

Plan Institute and our partners at the National Disability Network have sent an open letter to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon, urging them to reconsider their decision. Read the letter here.

The remaining provinces and territories have not yet made their decisions. We will update this section as new information becomes available.

During the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the federal government called on provinces and territories to ensure the CDB does not result in clawbacks of other benefits and said it would take action to prevent this happening.

[Locke]

Ah. I think I understand now. The AISH recipients would be paid the same amount overall as the Government wants to 'yoink' the additional $2400 that comes out of the Provincial pocket.

Its like when Disability insurance companies try and get clients onto Canada Pension Disability payments. The client receives the same amount of money in the end but less of it has to come from the Insurance company.

So instead of getting a supplement they'd just get the same as always.

What incentive does that give people who havent applied for the DTC (which, if they're on AISH they probably already have) to then go out and do it? That doesnt make any sense.

"Here is some cost and hassle for nothing."

Albeit, that is still pretty stupid.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

You might want to read what I wrote again, and if you still don't get it, go do some more looking. The clawback is absolutely an Alberta specific thing, unless other provinces have caught on too.


But yes, you need to qualify for the DTC, but qualifying for the DTC doesn't not guarantee the payment.

Well...whats the problem then?

[BigThief]

Nickle and diming the disabled, The Alberta Advantage!