Alberta Politics Thread

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

If I wanted to know who Jason Kenney is, either a fair summary or even two sources supporting him and opposing him, what should I read?

I don't know much about the guy and I guess now I should. I have this vague idea that he's a far-right ideologue, but I think it's the result of noticing a bunch of vague insinuations by people who don't like him rather than anything substantive.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

If I wanted to know who Jason Kenney is, either a fair summary or even two sources supporting him and opposing him, what should I read?

I don't know much about the guy and I guess now I should. I have this vague idea that he's a far-right ideologue, but I think it's the result of noticing a bunch of vague insinuations by people who don't like him rather than anything substantive.

This is an example of the self-aggrandizement I was kind of talking about earlier. It's The Star, and by the first paragraph you can tell they're obviously biased but this did actually happen.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...s_website.html

There was also this:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...article571718/

That said, there's also the time he harvested the email address of LGBTQ Canadians so he could send them info regarding the government's acceptance of LGBTQ refugees from Iran. Kind of sleazy but perhaps reflects some political pragmatism.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jaso...ians-1.1207144

EDIT: I misread what you wrote. I'll try to dig up some profiles on him. What I will say is he's always been great at pounding the pavement and rallying supporters.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Today in idiotic policy, the Alberta government is supporting protectionist inter-provincial trade barriers.



The NDP showing their sheer ignorance with respect to economic and financial matters yet again.

Seriously. I've been in "wait and see" mode since the election, but this, coupled with a few things that they've done recently (sign on to CPP, min wage increases) have really proven that they are as incompetent as they seem.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by rubecube

EDIT: I misread what you wrote. I'll try to dig up some profiles on him. What I will say is he's always been great at pounding the pavement and rallying supporters.

Thanks. Google failed me. Maybe someone will write something after his announcement. But as to the above, the second link you posted is kinda slimy, but surely there must be something more damning to indict the guy given the resistance I've been hearing to him taking the reins.

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But this election is going to be fought over the carbon tax and spending policies of the NDP. I would expect that the Libs, PC's, WR and Alberta Party will all campaign on rescinding this program and replacing it with either a GST, and a more well thought out Carbon Tax.

Such as?

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by cal_guy

Such as?

See BC

Same result (won't save the planet or give a social license) but less burden on lower income families because it was ACTUALLY revenue neutral

[CaptainCrunch]

Also a carbon tax that doesn't wreck Alberta businesses competitive balance with goods coming in from out of province that are exempt.

A Carbon tax that won't kill charity organizations like the food bank.

A carbon tax that is basically a double tax because of a lack of municipal exemption

A carbon tax that won't punish schools for having to bus kids in.

I don't have a problem with BC's carbon tax because it returns funds through lower taxation, its a if or for tax.

[CaptainCrunch]

Personally I would scrap the whole thing and just go to a straight percentage PST consumer tax with a guarantee that X percentage of tax dollars earned goes to Green initiatives.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Thanks. Google failed me. Maybe someone will write something after his announcement. But as to the above, the second link you posted is kinda slimy, but surely there must be something more damning to indict the guy given the resistance I've been hearing to him taking the reins.

Yeah, it's hard to find unbiased profiles on any politician.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Personally I would scrap the whole thing and just go to a straight percentage PST consumer tax with a guarantee that X percentage of tax dollars earned goes to Green initiatives.

The fact that Alberta doesn't have a PST is great for my own pocket book but otherwise completely insane.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Today in idiotic policy, the Alberta government is supporting protectionist inter-provincial trade barriers.



The NDP showing their sheer ignorance with respect to economic and financial matters yet again.

Interestingly they're now claiming they are not seeking an exemption, though that's what others understood at the time. Behind the scenes rumour has it they're looking to adjust scoring to add 20% weight to Alberta companies. Which is probably worse.

Most of the leaks are coming from Ontario and I don't think they're very happy about it. The ministry was pretty surprised it had gotten out.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The fact that Alberta doesn't have a PST is great for my own pocket book but otherwise completely insane.

From an efficiency standpoint I agree, but it gets way overblown from a revenue standpoint

Alberta always treated taxes like Walmart pricing. Put a big rollback sign over the one or two numbers everyone pays attention to, and charge through the nose on everything else. If you add up what Alberta collects in personal corporate and other taxes, not including resource revenues or heritage fund revenues, and compare that to other provinces including their sales taxes, we're all in the same ballpark.

BCs tax revenues ~24B including their sales taxes, or about $5100 per person
AB's tax revenues ~22B before the carbon tax, or about $5200 per person

Just my 2 bits. Your comment was totally reasonable btw.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The fact that Alberta doesn't have a PST is great for my own pocket book but otherwise completely insane.

I'll agree and disagree.

I'll agree if you want a sales tax on the premise that they drop income tax rates and scrap the world's most half-assed Carbon tax.

If you find it insane that we dont have all the taxes then I'll disagree with you.

Unfortunately the attitude of; 'you get what you pay for' doesnt apply when theres an unlimited amount of money, so you have to be diligent to get value for your dollar.

[PepsiFree]

I would prefer lowered income taxes and higher consumption taxes.

People who spend the most should be taxed the most, not necessarily those who make the most (though those two things often line up).

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I would prefer lowered income taxes and higher consumption taxes.

People who spend the most should be taxed the most, not necessarily those who make the most (though those two things often line up).

This is a better solution than current because at least this would properly target the problem (consumers and consumption, not blanketing everybody) and try to impose a way to truly and positively transform behaviour to reflect less consumptive lifestyles. If you're an environmentalist, I'd think this is the path you would want the government to take leadership in.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

This is a better solution than current because at least this would properly target the problem (consumers and consumption, not blanketing everybody) and try to impose a way to truly and positively transform behaviour to reflect less consumptive lifestyles. If you're an environmentalist, I'd think this is the path you would want the government to take leadership in.

The issue again comes at Government spending.

Changing policy to positively affect one set of actions over another is great, but they wont repeal one tax to impose another they'll just impose both.

[Resolute 14]

Personally, I hope Notley is stupid enough to introduce another PST on top of her It's-A-Carbon-Tax-Not-A-PST. It would guarantee her and her merry band of incompetents are kicked out in 2019 as both Wildrose and the PCs trip over each other to make repealing it a central plank of their platforms.

[RedHot25]

I think today is the day that Jason Kenney announces that he is running for the PC party. Here's his website: http://www.jasonkenney.ca/

A lot of chatter on twitter, though, wondering from people how come he has their phone #/why he has it even, etc. For e.g.

Stephen Carter ‏@carter_AB 12h12 hours ago
Jason Kenney is robocalling the 2011 PC leadership list. How'd he get that? Does he think that's ethical? It's legal. Barely. #ableg #pcaa

Martha and Henry
‏@MarthaandHenry
Only on the @CPC_HQ and @PC_Alberta lists and got a nice "join me" dialer on my house and cell tonight from @jkenney. #howdhedothat

Linda Johnson ‏@lindajohnsonyyc 12h12 hours ago
Linda Johnson Retweeted Martha and Henry
I just got one also..the web site shows Calgary Constituency office and House of Commons addresses #abpoli #pcaa

Luke Savage
‏@LukewSavage
Jason Kenney apparently somehow has a hold of Wildrose's member list, hrrrmmmm. #cdnpoli #ableg

[nik-]

Well there goes that then

[Zarley]

Good luck to him! It's going to be quite a task to merge the parties with some of the idiots they have on each side.