Having personally lived through two disastrous NDP governments in B.C., 1972-75 and 1991-2001, my heart pours out to our neigbours in Alberta, who suffered through the disastrous financial ruin of Rachel Notley’s incompetent reign. Being a Devout Leftist, she of course has no shame and accepts no responsibility for the enormous damage she has done.
But people who … you know … are responsible and understand math … have a quite different opinion:
Not only a funding freeze but serious spending cuts. Obviously, drastic times require drastic measures. Finally.
Alberta governments in the last couple of decades spent when times were good and kept spending when times were not so good. As a result, this province, which was once debt-free, built up the most expensive bureaucracy per capita in the country on the back of a climbing deficit and debt.
As the panel points out, if per capita spending matched the average spending in Canada’s three largest provinces, we would not have a deficit.
However, for all the high-priced services, service delivery was no better and often worse than in other provinces. In other words, the provincial government’s performance is mediocre, at best, with the health-care system singled out for improvement.
Trump wants to buy Alberta?
https://i2.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-01-at-8.37.21-AM.png?resize=768%2C561&ssl=1
No thanks, hard pass.
Pretty much the only part of you that can get hard
That doesn’t even make sense.
You started.
Lost in translation to Farsi?
Alberta’s economy could really do well if we became the 51st state. It would be nice to have some real representation (ie senators with power) to go with all of our taxation.
We’d be better off on our own. They have enough problems we want no part of.
Don’t know if I would want to be part of the USA, but that is a question that all adult Albertan’s could answer Democratically in a Referendum. But hell it would be 1000 % better than the shitshow we have now. Bunch of Turdcutters 3000 miles away bankrupting us and screwing us over all the time. And our votes are worth ZERO, and they tax our asses into the ground. All My Give a FOOKS about Canada left years and years ago. In the early 1990’s on construction I worked so many hours overtime, I paid 52,000 In Income tax. And that was with a family of 6. Many days when I would get home I could not eat I was so tired.
They can cetainly suffer from federal interference too but a state in the republic U.S.A. seems to have more authority in its own jurisdiction than a province has in the Canadian confederation.
At the moment we would do okay in the US but under an Obama we could be screwed worse than under Turdeau. Judges in the US forget that the US started as a union of independent countries that granted the federal government very limited powers. The Federal government, a creation of the states, now rules the states with an iron hand. Likely the Federal government would seize control of provincial lands in Alberta like they did in a dozen western-most states. That could be disastrous with the coastal elites determining our economic future.
I think America has learned to NEVER elect someone again that you can’t FIRE….Obama was a huge mistake that needs to be swept up in the trash bin.. Enough of stupid PPL. the Republican choice for the first Black President was Colin Powel. He would have been a huge disaster.. Enough with the Social Engineering
The Communists are done…..2020 will eliminate them one way or another… The First Amendment Rights may be exercised once again!
“Enough of stupid PPL. ”
You’re partly right: we’re never seeing another republican president again.
A little history lesson – which has been mentioned here many times. The proposed province of ‘Buffalo’ was broken up into Alberta and Saskatchewan because Quebec/Ontario and the eastern elites were concerned about the power resource rich Buffalo would yield in Canada. In the US, the States that have the most influence in Washington are the ones that have the most economic clout – – – New York, California, Texas & Pennsylvania.
I have no doubt that those states would not want to share their clout in Washington with the upstart Alberta (and to some degree, Saskatchewan). Don’t be surprised if they would insist on Alberta being a ‘territory’ like Puerto Rico, with limited influence, or insist on Alberta entering as ‘North Alberta’ & ‘South Alberta’
Not a hope in hell would I want to see Alberta (us), exchange an Eastern Ruling Party deeply in debt for another Eastern Ruling Party deep in debt.
SCREW that.
Ab, Sask, Mb, NWT & the Yukon.
Democratic REPUBLIC of Buffalo.
Trudeau knows where Alberta is. He also knows Albertans “contribute” $20 billion to the rest of Canada.
Now if Trump said, “Justin give me a billion dollars and I’ll take Alberta off your hands. That way Canada will me it’s Paris commitments.” Trudeau might go for it.
Now, if we could only do this nationally, locally (B.C.), regionally and municipally … dare one dream …
In response to “L” – I totally agree. I have lived on a budget all my life, and as a result, enjoy a very nice quality of life. I always have to plan for my vacations or any maintenance items around the house, and yes, I have an emergency fund as well.
It is my understanding from my parents (now deceased) that Canada lived this way until the election of Pierre Eliot Trudeau in 1970. Yes, a lot of infrastructure was undertaken, but transfer payments (especially to Quebec and the Maritimes) and foreign aid started the National Debt.
Perhaps I am the “crazy one”, in that I pay my bills on time and try to live debt-free. It seems that all the world and its wife have gone on a massive spending spree with no sense of future consequences.
It is my understanding from my parents (now deceased) that Canada lived this way until the election of Pierre Eliot Trudeau in 1970.
Yup. PET promised a “just society” for all and sundry, assuming that one wasn’t white or, if white, only from Quebec or southern Ontario. Guess who paid for it? And, then, Alberta had the audacity to actually make money from its oil…..
Actually, Big Momma, a lot of us still live that way. Forget PET; there are a fair few who have continued that tradition – I see it in our offsprings. My concern is that the kids will be brought low just because of their prudence and hard work; government regulations and taxes will wipe them out.
Something’s missing-it’s the PC governments of 2000-2015. They were at least as profligate as the NDP. Fixing this is on par with the Augean stables, and will only get harder with the US probably slipping into recession.
Maybe you should try reading the article again. The previous governments did not get a pass
“Alberta governments in the last couple of decades spent when times were good and kept spending when times were not so good. As a result, this province, which was once debt-free, built up the most expensive bureaucracy per capita in the country on the back of a climbing deficit and debt”
Fair enough. I was commenting on the post title and quoted section.
Sure you were.
“…at least as profligate …”
No. Not quite as profligate as seeking to destroy the industry that more than any other produced the wealth they needed to tax to pay the interest on the funds they kept borrowing to live beyond their means. And the fact that previous governments did it doesn’t excuse any subsequent government doing the same thing. The PC governments of 2000-2015 were doing it wrong. The succeeding NDP government set out to outdo them.
They set to outdo them but I don’t think they did. Special Ed’s royalty reaming was at least as bad as any single thing the NDP did in power.
Sure, go with that. More than tripled the debt.
From a March 2018 article.
“When the NDP took over in 2015, Alberta’s debt totalled $11.9-billion. It currently sits at $45-billion and is forecast to hit $71-billion by 2019-20”
I think a lot of that was baked in by PC spending and lower oil prices. The NDP is still responsible, but they mostly just intensified a trajectory the province was already on.
After Ralph left, the RED Tories moved in and spent like Socialists. $100/bbl oil has a way of burning a hole through your pocket. Everyone in Alberta had the same problem. But once Notley got elected, Socialists LOVE social spending and government union slugs. And we got both of those in SPADES. Then Trudope decided he could get his hate on for Alberta, and turn the screws on us. It worked even better than he had planned. Hence, he probably won’t get a second term. But if he does, we will be living in interesting times.
Yep….Govt Slugs alright – to the tune of some 85,000 more in a bureacracy of ~ 415,000 at the time of the NDP winning.
Seems to me we could shed said 85,000 in a heatbeat…and go from there.
I dream of a world where PUBLIC Service Unions are OUTLAWED.
Hey Rachel, can you please stop complaining about the fire burning the house down, drop the gas can and lighter, and grab a fire hose or a bucket of water and join those firefighters risking their lives!
If she could … she’d grab some negative interest rate Alberta Bonds to fund her welfare Province … just like the EU
Here’s what the Rebel has to say about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tby0R80wxCA
Same in Ontario where NDP cousins, the Liberals under Kathleen Wynne, left the biggest debt in the history of the province.
Now the Trudeau Liberals are going after Premier Ford to help them win the Federal election. They really do think we are that dumb.
If we have a smart electorate, Trudeau and company should be sent packing.
Ontario was doing fine with Bill Davis as premier. It wasn’t until Liberal premier Peterson and his bunch of “drunken idiots” (in association with National Dunce Party leader Bob Rae and his mob) that Ontario started to fail.
Ian personally bill davis is an asshole, and Peterson ain’t much better, but Peterson supported ford in the last election and even had a con sign on his front lawn
Never met Bill Davis, I speak purely from an economic point of view. Don’t know how many other signs Peterson had on his front lawn, but the fact that he had a Conservative sign may indicate that even a devil is capable of repenting.
Davis was a pro-business center-statist who maintained various awful status quos such as the Beer Store etc. You could do worse, and did.
undork davis was a libtard in a conservative coat, nothing more
They really do think we are that dumb.
The worst part is that they’re right. Many Canadian voters would rather vote for a lousy status quo than risk bettering themselves by electing sensible politicians.
Sadly, amen. I’m willing to bet the Maritimes vote 100% Sockpuppet again this time. They know who signs their welfare cheques.
Just imagine how well off we could all beifthe governments weren’t all spending huge amounts of money on debt servicing. Governments could increase spending by twenty percent and still balance budgets, or decrease taxes by twenty percent with no change in services.
Kenney is about to have his Ralph Klein moment.
I await that with bated breath…!!
Bring it the Fk on Jason..!!
Andrew Coyne:
Two parties, one choice, or is it
two choices, one party?
https://mobile.twitter.com/nationalpost/status/1170355901636796423
Vote PPC!
Go Max Go!
The Turd has already spent 2 future generations of GNP.. He is spending money (Borrowed) that Canada doesn’t have, nor do they intend to pay back…..Debt doesn’t disappear easy, a .35C$ may work for awhile. The Canadian civil service is now consuming ALL economic gain…..Happy! Happy! when every Canadian is working @ CBC, or part of an Indian Tribe…….What name will Canada be called in 20 years?…
Not to worry! Canada will simply clearcut more virgin timberland, grind into pellets and ship to the U.K. for burning in their “carbon-neutral” power plants. Ya seen one tree, ya seen em all.
And the Tides Foundation will pave the roads to the virgin lands
“What name will Canada be called in 20 years?…”
it will be called L.O.T.S. =
LAND OF THE STUPIDS!
Canadians Understand Nothing Today
Chinastan
Provincial debts [2017-18] in Canada vary from about 27 500 per capita to about 4 500 per capita.
That last one is Alberta.
https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/fallstatement/2018/chapter-4.html Chart 4.5
Like Klein’s earlier claim that expenses are out of control, it’s an excuse.
The institutions they are most voluble about cutting are Health & Education.
Comments about cutting fee-for-service in one and removing the “public” from Alberta public schools suggest that their aim is privatization.
“Comments about cutting fee-for-service in one and removing the “public” from Alberta public schools suggest that their aim is privatization.”
Goodness lets hope you’re right.
Health and education – sure. As the roads were falling apart with the communists, there’s nothing else to reduce.
Pffft. Until half the pigs at the trough are ‘slaughtered’ this shit will continue. The f**king teachers, professors, nurses, bus drivers, cops and heroes are NEVER going to back down. They will take every dime from every non-swine they can and damn you to hell if try to stop them.
If our economy is so great, like UnMe says, and governments still can’t balance the budgets AND pay down debt then we’re f**king doomed. And we are.
The Alberta Progressive Conservatives started the deficit spending. Jason Kenney was the last Progressive Conservative party leader.
Do something, NOW, Mr. Kenney.
Lougheed was a progressive Progressive Conservative and stood firm on defending the constitutional rights of Albertans. Don Getty, another PC was, quite simply, a free-spending idiot. It took Ralph Klein, a convert from the provincial Liberals to bail us out. Then all it took was Stelmach and after him, Redford (both PCs) to put the first nails in the financial coffin. Then after a brief experience with Prentice (yes, another PC) Albertans, out of sheer frustration, voted in the Accidental Government of NDP-er Rachel Notley who effectively sealed the coffin. It took the combined efforts of the PCs and the Wild Rose to come together and virtually blow the lid off that coffin and destroy the Left in the process. Now, with Kenney and the UCP, we’ve got a chance to survive and prosper. One caveat: If the kleptocrats in Ottawa aren’t turfed this go-round, you quite possibly may see Alberta withdrawing from Canada. And Canada would be the biggest loser on that score.
I have zero empathy for those who are stupid enough to vote away their freedom and prosperity, in fact I hate what they have done to those of us who are sane and know that socialism is a dead end street.
I still say all the 1000s of TRILLIONS in DEBT all over the world, gubbamint, private and wherever else it can exist . . . . .
is a very, very, bad sign. ‘biblical proportions’ as the saying goes.
and yet, those doing their damnedest to get the blinking phenomenon *turned around* get pilloried by the press.
almost like each generation thinks THEY can ‘get away with it’ and live complete with all the gadgets, so much food half it is wasted, new cars, vacations, huge houses, lavish excess,
yep. each generation thinks *they* arent gonna be the one drives off the cliff.
the world economy is a staggeringly incomprehensibly huge PONZI SCHEME.
time to bone up on your bartering skills there citoyens.
I wish the FCUK some pollllitiSHUN somewhere would link spending cuts to this debt every time budgets are devised.
hb, the entire world’s economy now functions on debt. Look at it as a new way to create wealth. The more you owe the more you have and the possibilities are endless.
Kenney is untrustworthy and slimy. As bad or worse than Scheer. Kenney wants to be PM and therefore will never put Alberta first.
I’ll cheer the UCP when they cut enough govt workers that there are no commie MLAs left in Redmonton. $100 UCP donation for every billion in spending they cut annually.
Fiscal conservatism is incompatible with democracy.
Kenney’s austerity will only allow the next Stelmach-Redford-Notley to do this all over again.
Alberta should default on the debt and eradicate our credit rating. Then we’ll have fiscal conservatism regardless of who’s in power.
With all due respect the headline misses the point. Anybody remember the financial mess left by Mulroney and cleaned up by Chretien and Martin?
Canada has an opportunity to lead the way in AI applications of administration Jobs. This is the ideal use (Beta) of advanced AI in a non-critical process with MAX returns
1. Education, if Administration tasks were taken over by AI:… All money would go into the Classroom, the Children would get better educated will less taxes
2. Health, if Administration tasks were taken over by AI: … More money for health procedures & Providers
3. Government, if Administration tasks were taken over by AI:… Cuts > 85% of cost… Redundant tasks eliminated
NO Payroll, No Employee Benefits, No retirement costs…What’s not to like
“Anybody remember the financial mess left by Mulroney and cleaned up by Chretien and Martin?”
Yes. They downloaded the deficit onto the backs of the provinces, mainly Alberta. Who is it that you imagine Kenney can download to?
” They downloaded the deficit onto the backs of the provinces, mainly Alberta. ”
And it was awesome. More downloading please!
Bilderberg Kenney isn’t here for Alberta Conservatives.
He’s carrying on with the Red Tory PC position since true conservatives stupidly allowed themselves to be gutted by Alberta’s PC masters.
Here’s a free tip for Kenney. 90% of the kids could be taught over the internet. Pick 20 or 50 rockstar teachers, give them a conservative (aka: reality based) curriculum and start closing/selling school buildings.
Free tip#2. Government conferences (aka: paid vacation/parties) should be done via teleconferencing by the FEW remaining middle manager civil servants.
That’s it for free tips Mr Kenney. Get a hold of me here for the paid tips. All I charge is one dollar…for every dollar I knock off govt spending.