Federal wage subsidy should go to struggling Albertans, not to a political party with plenty of money in the bank
The United Conservative Party said it would stick up for taxpayers, but now the UCP is exploiting the federal wage subsidy and taking money meant for struggling Albertans. The federal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides employers affected by COVID-19 with a 75 per cent wage subsidy. The intent of the program wasn’t to force Canadians to subsidize…
Unfortunately, the UCP’s rhetoric has been on-point but its bite hasn’t matched its bark
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will need to make tough decisions to keep the government’s leaking fiscal ship afloat. But before Kenney can sell necessary spending cuts, he will need to show the public that his United Conservative Party politicians and staff have done all they can to trim their own expenses. So far, the UCP…
It’s telling that the people pushing for a PST never talk about looking Albertans in the eye and asking for permission
Every single time Alberta faces a financial challenge, some academics recommend the same pseudo-solution: a provincial sales tax. They seem blissfully unaware that governments are struggling because Albertans are struggling and a PST will make hard times even harder. Here’s proof of that disconnect: these academics always demand a provincial sales tax (PST) but never…
It’s time for politicians to show solidarity with Albertans and make the tough, but right, decision to reduce their own pay
There’s no doubt elected officials are working hard to manage the COVID-19 crisis, but with many businesses closing their doors and families worrying about their next grocery bill, politicians need to show solidarity with the people they represent and reduce their own pay. Between the coronavirus health pandemic, the global economic shutdown and the collapsing…
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney recently raised the possibility of implementing a provincial police service. “We will invite the panel to explore the feasibility of establishing an Alberta provincial police force by ending the Alberta Police Service Agreement with the government of Canada,” he said. That statement was followed by an announcement by Justice Minister Doug…
By Steven Globerman and Jairo Yunis The Fraser Institute The Alberta government recently announced cuts to scores of jobs at the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), including operations staff, headquarter managers and field workers, as part of a major reorganization. The ostensible goal is to make the AER more efficient, effective and resilient by simplifying the…
The province is stuck in a one-generational political rut that’s built on memories of easy money
I have to admit that I don’t live in Alberta anymore. After a 35-year work sojourn, my wife and I left for B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, returning to roots and escaping the prairie winters in our retirement. Our adult children have also left, choosing to live in London and Vancouver rather than Calgary, their birth home.…
The provincial government dropped a bombshell this week when it announced the full or partial closure of 20 provincial parks and recreation areas. Some of these sites will be closed to public access. They also announced other major changes, including the potential sale or privatization of 164 additional parks and recreation areas. These sites could…
For business, an ideology-driven agenda – whether from the right or the left – doesn’t create favourable conditions for investment
Common sense is not so common, observed the 18th century French writer Voltaire. Sadly, he could be talking about politics in Alberta today. Albertans have been whipsawed by two back-to-back political parties that govern more by ideology than common sense. The NDP governed from the ideological perspective that the state should tax more and use…
Alberta's spending reduction plans much smaller than previous governments that wanted to eliminate the deficit, says Fraser Report
The Alberta government’s plan to eliminate the budget deficit by 2022/23 is less aggressive — both by timeline and by the amount of spending reductions — than previous successful deficit-reduction plans by other governments across Canada, says a new report released Thursday by public policy think tank the Fraser Institute. “The recent Alberta budget represents…
The United Conservative Party said it would stick up for taxpayers, but now the UCP is exploiting the federal wage subsidy and taking money meant for struggling Albertans. The federal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides employers affected by COVID-19 with a 75 per cent wage subsidy. The intent of the program wasn’t to force Canadians to subsidize…
