Alberta Politics & Government Thread 4.0

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Yeah, there is some spending that certainly doesn't make sense.

We’d might disagree on which parts don’t make sense but I appreciate that you’re actually demonstrating the ability to criticize some of their decisions.

[Fuzz]

Province cutting supports to seniors and caregivers to free up cash to pay out coal lawsuits.

He said the seniors’ benefit was flagged because it was one of the most generous in the country.


“We're looking for places [where] we're outliers. That one specifically, we will still have the highest threshold in the country. I think we'll be tied with New Brunswick and the three territories," he said.

“We're just looking everywhere we can to not be outliers, but not make Alberta less generous than anyone.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...erta-9.7109257


So it's OK to be outliers on low corporate taxes and no PST, but when it comes to supporting the vulnerable, we gotta make sure we are mid. Cool.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Province cutting supports to seniors and caregivers to free up cash to pay out coal lawsuits.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...erta-9.7109257


So it's OK to be outliers on low corporate taxes and no PST, but when it comes to supporting the vulnerable, we gotta make sure we are mid. Cool.

Give them an asset test imo. That would be much more effective. I know millionaires that can get their income down that low. All of these old age programs are going to be gone or stripped down to bare minimum within 15-20 years. Just a final payout to boomers until the check has to be paid.

https://thehub.ca/2025/11/21/federal...tion-combined/

Frankly, let the feds take this file, they are burning through almost 20% of their budget on it already. Alberta does not need to generously give out more to seniors. They designed a system that is going to collapse with them. Getting OAS on top of dramatically underpaying for CPP for decades. #### em. Give that money to literally anyone else for any reason and its better than the mass amounts of collective asset millionaires getting 3-5 different cheques each month.

[puffnstuff]

https://bsky.app/profile/thebreakdow.../3mg4ppcwmhk2l

The AMA has released a statement that clearly states the delay in the Triage Liason Physicians was a result of government not following their own process.
And the disintegration of the healthcare system only added more confusion.
This comes after Smith blamed them again.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Province cutting supports to seniors and caregivers to free up cash to pay out coal lawsuits.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...erta-9.7109257


So it's OK to be outliers on low corporate taxes and no PST, but when it comes to supporting the vulnerable, we gotta make sure we are mid. Cool.

I’m in favour of these types of cuts. The threshold cut off is still above the poverty line. We should not be subsidizing seniors further when they already have federal UBIs and the lowest rates of poverty by age group.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Province cutting supports to seniors and caregivers to free up cash to pay out coal lawsuits.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...erta-9.7109257


So it's OK to be outliers on low corporate taxes and no PST, but when it comes to supporting the vulnerable, we gotta make sure we are mid. Cool.

I’m in favour of these types of cuts. The threshold cut off is still above the poverty line. We should not be subsidizing seniors further when they already have federal UBIs and the lowest rates of poverty by age group.

This subsidy cut does not affect people in poverty.

[Fuzz]

OK, I can get behind sticking it to seniors. I agree it doesn't make sense to pay to those with enough assets to take care of themselves. I'm not sure "just above the poverty line" is a great metric, considering some seniors may have additional health expenses over the general population, and no means to deal with it.

[indes]

Maybe we just need to increase taxes on insurance and utilities. Then UCP can say they're winning with "highest priced essential services" in the country!

[TheIronMaiden]

I find it difficult to sympathize with people who are 60 and over who have lived in Alberta their whole life claiming that they are hard done by. You were born on the 1 yard line, if you couldn't get a touch down, at least the field goal was free.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I find it difficult to sympathize with people who are 60 and over who have lived in Alberta their whole life claiming that they are hard done by. You were born on the 1 yard line, if you couldn't get a touch down, at least the field goal was free.

You do recognize that the mere act of being born in Alberta doesn't guarantee you will have a problem free life to score that field goal, right? Like, yes, it's a big leg up, but there a bajillion things that can go wrong through no fault of the individual that leaves them struggling for life, right? Or is everyone on AISH failures of their own making?


Kind of an ignorant thing to believe, I guess.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

You do recognize that the mere act of being born in Alberta doesn't guarantee you will have a problem free life to score that field goal, right? Like, yes, it's a big leg up, but there a bajillion things that can go wrong through no fault of the individual that leaves them struggling for life, right? Or is everyone on AISH failures of their own making?


Kind of an ignorant thing to believe, I guess.

They still get AISH, CPP ( those who are over 60), and universal healthcare. It sucks that bad things happen to good people, but lets not pretend that there isn't a large social security network ( which is a good thing). No one wants to cut all the strings, least of all me. I just have a hard time keeping a straight face when they bitch about bad times. The softest generation in the world.

[Fuzz]

OK, but that's not what your previous post says. And it's not just illnesses. There are all sorts of reasons people may "born on the 1 yard line" and it still be completely understandable that they don't end up winning. I think just having a bit of empathy for the struggles of others goes along way to better social policies. The attitude of "it's their own fault they didn't win" isn't great.