April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Tax credit doesn't lower your taxable income. It just gives you 500 credit.

That's not entirely true. It would depend how its written up, but these are non-refundable (as far as I know) and basically you put the claim in and receive about 17% of the total. So IF the total is $500 then you save a whopping $85 on your taxes.

This is part of the stupidity of these credits; they look like its worthwhile during an election (and we've seen them for transit, child programs, volunteer firefighters, etc.). To the average person it looks like its $500, but the truth is its nowhere near an actual $500, and you'll never see $500!

The Wildrose loves these gimmicks and has put forward a couple of them. Like I say they look awesome, but when you file your taxes they amount to very little. Sure, something is better than nothing, but to save that $85 max. we're paying how much to administer the program?

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Wildrose party would win a healthy majority government with 50 to 60 seats, based on the results of the latest public opinion poll, says an analyst renowned for the accuracy of her seat projections.

But Janet Brown, a public opinion research consultant, said her prediction comes with a big caveat.

The model she uses to do seat projections shows half the province's 87 ridings have a margin of victory of less than 10 per cent.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Al...224/story.html

So basically I read this as the cities are totally undecided and the rural areas have decided more or less. I also find it very hard to believe the Wildrose will get anywhere near 60 seats. I think 50 is probably their upper range limit, with 38 being their lower range limit.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I also find it very hard to believe the Wildrose will get anywhere near 60 seats. I think 50 is probably their upper range limit, with 38 being their lower range limit.

One thing nobody talks about is the floor crossing of PC to WR after the election. Should WR come within a few seats of majority, I predict there will be a few blue troies crossing floor in search of cabinet post.

[c.t.ner]

Not sure if anyone posted this, but I just came across this.

http://danidollars.com/

Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith offers Albertans $300 if they elect a Wildrose government. If vote buying violates your conscience rights, pledge your $300 to Wildrose Relief.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I was just about to post the DaniDollars website. Its funny website, now I just need to decided how I'm gonna help her with my $300.

As to PCs crossing the floor, I would really hope not, and if they do, I hope Danielle follows through on recalls, cause I think those who run under one party only to switch to another for political gain should be automatically recalled.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by SebC

What about speech that advocates intolerance in public schools? Speech that permits hatred?

This is what the Hunspergers took issue with:

"The Board is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe, inclusive, equitable, and welcoming learning and teaching environment for all members of the school community. This includes those students, staff, and families who identify or are perceived as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, queer or questioning their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The Board expects all members of this diverse community to be welcomed, respected, accepted, and supported in every school."

So they're saying that these people should not be welcomed and/or respected and/or accepted and/or supported in at least some schools; and/or that the learning environment for them should not be safe and/or inclusive and/or equitable and/or welcoming.

As far as I'm concerned, that's hate - and that's not even touching on the kind of message it sends to have someone telling you you're going to burn in hell (for being who you are) elected as a leader of your province, and possibly as your representative in government. And Smith and the Wildrose party are also sending a message by failing to condemn it.

For reference, here's the Hunspergers' blog post: http://i41.tinypic.com/j9wriu.jpg

And here's the Edmonton Public School Board policy: http://www.epsb.ca/policy/ifa.bp.shtml

Sounds like discrimination to me, at best.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by kn

Second, we already tolerate all sorts of bigoted views. Where was the public outrage when the woman in Calgary got a suspended sentance for the honor killing of her 14 year old daughter?

Can you please provide a link to this? I'm not familiar with it, and, in light of the intense media scrutiny on the Shafia trial, I would be absolutely shocked if something like this escaped massive national media attention.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Can you please provide a link to this? I'm not familiar with it, and, in light of the intense media scrutiny on the Shafia trial, I would be absolutely shocked if something like this escaped massive national media attention.

I think he is referring to this one.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ou...086/story.html

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Slava

The Wildrose loves these gimmicks and has put forward a couple of them. Like I say they look awesome, but when you file your taxes they amount to very little.

I agreed completely what WR promised amount to very little compare to the free spending Redford.


"And during this campaign, Redford and the Tories have made more spending promises than any other party, including the Liberals and NDP. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the Tories' pledges of tax breaks for teachers, new schools, new buildings at universities, new tax credits for seniors and new health spending could add up to $4 billion more to the province’s books."

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/04/18...drose-strength

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

As to PCs crossing the floor, I would really hope not, and if they do, I hope Danielle follows through on recalls, cause I think those who run under one party only to switch to another for political gain should be automatically recalled.

Forming a coalition government is floor crossing by my book. Soliciting jobs from the other party like Raj did is floor crossing too.

[photon]

Strangling with a scarf is an honour killing?

[darklord700]

Any Albertan who don't agree with WR's perspective on transfer payment to Quebec should have their heads examined.

"Smith’s comprehension of the fundamental law of our country is that if you can afford luxurious social programs, you should not ask for handouts from other provinces."

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/04/18...il-gravy-train

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by First Lady

I think he is referring to this one.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ou...086/story.html

Haha. So it is an "honour killing", and motivated by "bigoted views", simply because the accused was a muslim. That's rich. For the record, I just read that article, and the Court of Queen's Bench decision, as well as the Alberta Court of Appeal decision which overturned the trial judge's decision and ordered a new trial, and there is absolutley no indication whatsoever that this particular crime was motivated by bigoted religious views.

In any event, there was clearly public outrage of the length of the sentence, and the decision has been overturned. All in all, this was not a good example of society's tolerance of intolerance.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I agreed completely what WR promised amount to very little compare to the free spending Redford.


"And during this campaign, Redford and the Tories have made more spending promises than any other party, including the Liberals and NDP. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the Tories' pledges of tax breaks for teachers, new schools, new buildings at universities, new tax credits for seniors and new health spending could add up to $4 billion more to the province’s books."

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/04/18...drose-strength

That CTF release was garbage though. I argued about it with him on twitter as well. He factors in the schools and such that the PCs want to build as current spending, but doesn't equate the tax credits from the Wildrose as spending and then argues that that Danidollars somehow don't factor in either. The Wildrose hasn't been anywhere near fiscally prudent, but nice try.

When you include these promises its not nearly the fiscal restraint you would have people believe. Aside from that glaring issue though, what does that have to do with this tax credit and the fact that they are woefully inefficient and sound better than they actually are? You seemed to be all set against them when the PCs were using them, but now that I point out the Wildrose affection for the same policy you are totally in favour?

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by SebC

While I agree that free tuition is a bad move, enrolment woudln't go through the roof because admissions would be capped.

Again, the problem with this is that it's a special interest tax break, and one that was not collectively-bargained for. If that's okay, then I want a SebC tax break. I don't know why you'd have a problem with this, there's only one SebC, so it's not like it would cost a lot of money compared to a tax break for everyone.

Tax breaks like this already exist all over the board. I'm really not sure why anyone can be so bent out of shape over it. Some of these parties are proposing platforms (that so many posters seem to forget when talking about this) that are financially impossible and would destroy our province.

A teacher tax credit is certainly more responsible then giving everyone a blanket raise as some are suggesting. A raise of only 5000 a year for the 30 thousand teachers would equate to 150M a year and makes no sense since it would be aimed at rewarding a small percentage of people that a tax credit can easily accomplish and for a fraction.

Please provide sources that indicate post secondary enrollment would be capped if tuition was removed - something that would cost our province over 1Billion dollars a year and obviously degrade the quality of post secondary education. You approach it matter of factly and I haven't seen anything concrete to suggest it. Naturally every university in Alberta is going to up class sizes in order to make more money once tuition is solely on tax payers shoulders. If this isn't the biggest vote buy of them all (right ahead of Ralph bucks part 2) I don't know what is.

I guess i just makes a lot more sense to whine about a miniscule tax break then it does to question multi million/billion dollar bogus programs. If taxes aren't going up considerably to fund any of these policies I guess we'll just have to "better allocate money" by cutting it out of health care and education. 1 Billion per year for tuition and 500M in ralph er dani bucks isn't just hiding under the rug somewhere.

Everything in an election is a "vote buy". Claiming one thing is but another isn't makes no sense.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

That principal should be fired.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) he is retiring in two months time. He is firmly in the "I don't give a crap" camp.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by kn

Second, we already tolerate all sorts of bigoted views. Where was the public outrage when the woman in Calgary got a suspended sentance for the honor killing of her 14 year old daughter?

Originally Posted by First Lady

I think he is referring to this one.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ou...086/story.html

Its amusing (in a sad way) that you're wondering where the "outrage" was and the first word of the article about this is "outrage". I suppose that answers the question?

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Any Albertan who don't agree with WR's perspective on transfer payment to Quebec should have their heads examined.

"Smith’s comprehension of the fundamental law of our country is that if you can afford luxurious social programs, you should not ask for handouts from other provinces."

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/04/18...il-gravy-train

Smith clearly has no clue how equalization payments work. Quebec's expenditures have absolutely nothing to do with how much it recieves in equalization transfers. It is entirely based on revenues.

[troutman]

Last night, a PC door-knocker told me Smith will be in tough to win her riding. She is running against the popular editor of The Western Wheel.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by troutman

Last night, a PC door-knocker told me Smith will be in tough to win her riding. She is running against the popular editor of The Western Wheel.

I also told my PC door-knocker that he will be tough to win my riding because he's running against a WR candidate backed by a popular CP poster, moi.