The Alison Redford transgressions thread. Update- Redford quits.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by nik-

It will suck if all that comes out of this is us being stuck with the Wildrose as the governing party.

They haven't had a chance to govern so to say it would suck is reaching.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Dion

They haven't had a chance to govern so to say it would suck is reaching.

Given the lack of plan or details they had in the last election, to say they would have been better is a bit reaching as well.

Hopefully, they come out with more than "Trim the fat" and "Redford was stealing money" in the next election, but I won't hold my breath.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

When I look at those graphs, revenue has stagnated over the past 8 years. During this time there has been an increase in the population, which requires more capital projects to be created. How are people not seeing this as being a problem with the revenue stream going into the province's coffers? Because the amount is slightly higher than the previous year?

It's also not clear if the graphs are measured in inflation-adjusted constant dollars. That's...kind of an important detail when you're evaluating data of this type.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Dion

They haven't had a chance to govern so to say it would suck is reaching.

That's spurious logic. The federal NDP haven't had a chance to govern either, but I can quite confidently say it would suck if they ever had power over the nation's economy and finances.

[CaramonLS]

Healthcare costs tripling in the last 15 years is disturbing to say the least. Hopefully the new generic drug pricing structure saves some dollars.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Given the lack of plan or details they had in the last election, to say they would have been better is a bit reaching as well.

Hopefully, they come out with more than "Trim the fat" and "Redford was stealing money" in the next election, but I won't hold my breath.

That was the point I was trying to make. I'm going to wait and see what the WRP comes out with before passing judgement.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Healthcare costs tripling in the last 15 years is disturbing to say the least. Hopefully the new generic drug pricing structure saves some dollars.

It could also be a function of an aging population that is living longer in combination with playing catch-up from cuts in the mid 90s. Legitimately I work in the healthcare field and I really do think that to just look at the dollars isn't an effective way to examine the issue. We have more treatments for previously fatal diseases allowing people to live longer (the years that cost more money as well). Consequently we have a population which has more costly chronic illnesses which cost money. We also have major problems with inequality and the working poor in the province which contributes to high healthcare costs.

To just look at two numbers doesn't give any frame of reference to the extent of the issue. Personally I think that we should still be paying healthcare premiums but I know that people don't like paying what amounts to a tax.

Edit: That isn't to say that I think our healthcare system is perfect, it is deeply flawed, we have some issues that need to be addressed. People on the frontlines have absolutely no frame of reference for what people in management do and I think that the same goes for people in management don't have a frame of reference for the challenges of the frontline staff and what is required for optimal patient care. At the current time I don't think our healthcare system as it is currently set up is sustainable.

[Dion]

Those wishing to view question period of the Alberta gov assembly can be seen here.

http://assemblyonline.assembly.ab.ca...tEntityId=1861

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

It could also be a function of an aging population that is living longer in combination with playing catch-up from cuts in the mid 90s. Legitimately I work in the healthcare field and I really do think that to just look at the dollars isn't an effective way to examine the issue. We have more treatments for previously fatal diseases allowing people to live longer (the years that cost more money as well). Consequently we have a population which has more costly chronic illnesses which cost money. We also have major problems with inequality and the working poor in the province which contributes to high healthcare costs.

To just look at two numbers doesn't give any frame of reference to the extent of the issue. Personally I think that we should still be paying healthcare premiums but I know that people don't like paying what amounts to a tax.

Edit: That isn't to say that I think our healthcare system is perfect, it is deeply flawed, we have some issues that need to be addressed. People on the frontlines have absolutely no frame of reference for what people in management do and I think that the same goes for people in management don't have a frame of reference for the challenges of the frontline staff and what is required for optimal patient care. At the current time I don't think our healthcare system as it is currently set up is sustainable.

Seniors Workers
The number of people aged 65 and older is rising in Alberta as is their share of total population. Still, Alberta’s share is far lower than the national average (11% vs. 15% in 2012). Only the territories have a lower proportion of seniors. This is primarily a reflection of the draw of Alberta’s economy on job seekers aged 25 to 54 years. Most labour force characteristics are unavailable for those 65 and older. However, the labour force participation of those 55 years and older in Alberta increased from 43% in 2007 to 47% in 2012.

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/lmi/p.../mar2013.shtml

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Healthcare costs tripling in the last 15 years is disturbing to say the least.

I just don't understand this either. And to blame increasing health care costs on an aging population is wrong too.

The number of people aged 65 and older is rising in Alberta as is their share of total population. Still, Alberta’s share is far lower than the national average (11% vs. 15% in 2012). Only the territories have a lower proportion of seniors. This is primarily a reflection of the draw of Alberta’s economy on job seekers aged 25 to 54 years.

Alberta's health care system is broken and has been for a long time and the PC's have had decades to fix it and their attempts have been pitiful.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

How do you get that out of that? We have an aging population, not to the same degree as other populations based on percentages, but look a little deeper. We have a growing population from people moving to Alberta for work, which makes the increase in the percentage of people over 65 appear smaller. At the same time you are using absolute numbers To look at health care spending.

There are new treatments that cost money, medication, salaries, facilities, operating costs... This all costs money. At the end of the day, our system isn't perfect, but it is pretty darn good all things considered.

Please tell me what the best way to fix the health care system is within the Canada Health Act? Or are you just blowing hot air trying to pin everything on the PCs?

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

If Wild Rose 1) manages to get elected and 2) runs a surplus budget, I'll eat my hat.

Until then, I'm inclined to believe we have a revenue problem.

Alberta's economy is structurally exposed to difficult to manage problems...

1-We export resources...so as export prices go...so does our primary resource economy

2-Our secondary sectors (Manufacturing and services) are tightly linked to the resource sector...this tight linkage makes the economic impact in resource exports greater

3-As people move to Alberta they place demands on the infrastructure and only bring with them their tax revenue. As Ralph said people moving to Alberta don't bring their hospitals with them. How do you plan for this?

4-When the resource sector does well, it can challenge the rest of the economy by raising the price of inputs that other sectors need (e.g. people)...it can also hurt in the long term by focusing attention on a sector that may not have as many long term benefits as other sectors (imagine Alberta's Steve Jobs 2.0 drops out of school to work on a rig...never to create ICT companies)

So Alberta is a challenging economy to manage...Back in the 1970's Peter Lougheed and the PCs displaced the Socreds who were tired old bible thumpers and pursued an activist political agenda which led to a lot of policy including the Alberta Heritage Fund (which is the neglected tool Alberta needs most right now).

As far as I can tell the Wild Rose party is all about debt management...their commentary about infrastructure is limited to roads and how to get better management of road projects for better ROI.

In my opinion the Wild Rose party is not ready to manage the complex realities of the Alberta economy of today as well as developing a plan for developing the KNOWLEDGE infrastructure necessary to prepare Alberta for its INEVITABLE post-oil economy.

Its like the mailroom intern gunning for the CEO's job...

I'm not saying the PCs of today are doing a great job (I get the anger and frustration)...and I believe their time to Govern will come to an end...but for the love of God not until there is a Party with more sophistication in their policy than "Debt is bad...taxpayers deserve more money in their pockets"

[nik-]

In my mind, when a party makes a ton of noise about saving money by rolling back MLA pay raises, they've lost perspective, or have never had it. It's a drop in the drop in the bucket.

[Jacks]

The WR should start going after this PC executive board. I doubt most Albertan's had any idea that they held so much power over the Premier. I always assumed that the elected caucus were the only ones who could decide who is leader outside of a leadership race. We don't know anything about these people, and they aren't elected, but they seem to be able to tell the Premier what to do.

They could go after this in question period asking Redford to ask her party masters what to expect for policy in the future. Ask her what conditions have been attached to her employment by this unelected group of overseers, etc.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by nik-

In my mind, when a party makes a ton of noise about saving money by rolling back MLA pay raises, they've lost perspective, or have never had it. It's a drop in the drop in the bucket.

Like putting tape over the seams in the hood of your truck to make it more 'fuel efficient'.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Like putting tape over the seams in the hood of your truck to make it more 'fuel efficient'.

Will that work? It was either that or speed holes and I could never decide which.

[darklord700]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...596/story.html

Jeneroux and Young are now thinking about jumping ship.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

How do you get that out of that? We have an aging population, not to the same degree as other populations based on percentages, but look a little deeper. We have a growing population from people moving to Alberta for work, which makes the increase in the percentage of people over 65 appear smaller. At the same time you are using absolute numbers To look at health care spending.

There are new treatments that cost money, medication, salaries, facilities, operating costs... This all costs money. At the end of the day, our system isn't perfect, but it is pretty darn good all things considered.

Please tell me what the best way to fix the health care system is within the Canada Health Act? Or are you just blowing hot air trying to pin everything on the PCs?

Somebody needs to bite the bullet and start privatizing portions of the AHC. Governments are notoriously inefficient and we need to start looking at out-sourcing where service will not be affected (and may actually improve) and costs will be reduced. Other countries have done this when there costs were spiraling out of control.... ie. Great Britain.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Somebody needs to bite the bullet and start privatizing portions of the AHC. Governments are notoriously inefficient and we need to start looking at out-sourcing where service will not be affected (and may actually improve) and costs will be reduced. Other countries have done this when there costs were spiraling out of control.... ie. Great Britain.

How would privatization help? I need something more than the the typical 'governments are ineffective' line too.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Somebody needs to bite the bullet and start privatizing portions of the AHC. Governments are notoriously inefficient and we need to start looking at out-sourcing where service will not be affected (and may actually improve) and costs will be reduced. Other countries have done this when there costs were spiraling out of control.... ie. Great Britain.

Do you mean portions like diagnostics? We've done that and its had seemingly no effect on wait times or costs. Booking for things like CT scans and MRIs seems pretty bad today, just as it has been for years despite all the private operators.