Do tell: In 15 of the last 25 years, one or more provinces with higher living standards (per person GDP) received equalization while a province with lower living standards did not
20 Replies to “Is Equalization Broken?”
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What pisses me off is the most OVER represented provinces in the nation (Atlantic Canada) are the biggest recipients of this scam. For example, take a look at PEI. It is, without question the most overgoverned piece of real estate likely on the planet.
Charlottetown has a Mayor and ten councillors for a population of 40,500….or one council member per 3,681 people. (Calgary has 1 councillor for every 87,000 people)
The provincial legislature of PEI has 27 seats for a total PEI population of 180,000 or one seat for every 6,667 people. (Alberta has 1 seat for every 57,000 people)
Federally it has 4 seats (all, unfortunately Liberal currently which gives the Liberals their effective majority over the combined total of Conservative and Bloc seats) or 1 seat for every 45,000 people. Alberta has 1 seat for every 136,000 people)
If you apply the PEI ratio of Parliament seats to population, Alberta should have 111 seats….not 37.
Sounds like PEI could just elect a mayor for Charlottetown and let that person be Premier and MP (a single one for the province)
Agreed. – (see my one voter- one house vote idea at paul530 on substack.)
Further the Fraser institute study this is from uses per capita gdp – a very poor measure for this. The original intent (circa 1928) for equalization focussed on education – use teacher hours per student (excluding admin to sidestep woke/die costs) and the picture changes a lot. I have not found good numbers in a 10 sec search… but it looks like a good bet that equalization has never met it’s nominal goals and has consistently been used to move western monies east.
Joey B – You forgot/neglected to mention the 4 senators representing that damned sandbar.
NS, NB each have 10 senators, PEI has 4 because canada wanted the Eastern 3 provinces to have 24 total like the 4 western provinces have, which is 6 each
Which explains why Quebec (a supposedly have-not province) could afford $10 per day childcare for decades.
We succeed in spite of statism. Just not all of us. Programmed failure for power for the few over the many.
Equality. No, equity. Egalitarianism comes at a high cost; inflation and psychopathic power parasite proliferation.
If you tax something you get less of it, meaning we’re getting a lot less of everything thanks to “progressivism.”
I always wondered how Quebec got away not calling its hydro electricity a resource.
Or how not developing those resources attracts equalization from those that do.
Or selling it at about half the the market rate in Ontario – which creates the budget shortfall – which allows Equalization to continue.
Wife and I just spent a long weekend in Quebec City. Went to the Plains of Abraham Museum. Aside from being somewhat surprised they actually have this museum that teaches about their defeat, my only other thought was why the F didn’t Wolfe put them all on boats and ship them back to France? This moment was probably the start of the fall of the Brit empire, and a first sign of suicidal empathy.
Wolfe of course assumed that Quebec would simply be handed back to the French when the war was over, and so followed a policy of decency, friendliness and minimal interference with the locals. When the French insisted on making the British keep Quebec, almost the entire urban population of Quebec City and Montreal did indeed leave anyway. Both cities were English-speaking until the end of the 19th century. Well, hell, Montreal still is, you just can’t hear it above the French.
The Cows Will Save You.
Can Alberta fall far enough to no longer have to make contributions? It seems we may soon find out. It will be entertaining when the entire nation is dependent upon the profits of dairy farmers.
Is Equalization Broken?
Nope.
Pretty much works as planned.
Its communism.
Here’s an idea! Why doesn’t Canada sell the Maritimes to Trump as a 51st State? Not that I’d want that … but it would OBVIOUSLY save Canadian’s a LOT of your plastic money.
Kenji – do you think the Prez. is that stupid?
No. But I was just helping Carney make a counteroffer. LOL
Let’s talk Alberta and Saskatchewan…
That will be Trump’s final counteroffer. Before arming insurgent Prairie Canadians ready for regime change
While on my way to the CCCo. Consolidated Fire Department to drop off plans (their online portal is broken) … my 1970’s HS radio station was playing one of my favorite tunes from 1971, Australia … the band: Kahvas Jute. The tune: Free
https://youtu.be/t83CUO80d8o?si=WO31ABI1MnKoysjI
I must say … I was shocked at how NOT Free the plan check fee for a simple fire department plan review of a small residential addition was $730.00. That’s just the flipping Fire Department reviewing an existing home in an existing established neighborhood. Our Building Department Plan Check Fee was > $5,000.00. That’s JUST the plan check fee … the Building permit fee will be another $7,500.00 on top of that. And then there is the School District Developer Fee …
Yeah, living in CA … and building necessary housing is anything BUT Free.
OTOH … Sask. and Alberta … you should break FREE!
Hmm, born and educated in the east, worked 25+ years out west and retired east again with respective health and end of life costs. How do you figure I fit in when all my costs were borne by the east and my taxes paid in the west?
I will concede $13.6 Billion a year to keep Quebec from separating does seem to be a waste of money.
PEI gets 4 senators because each region got 25 senators way back when. Each region, Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and West got 25 each so the population centers at the time, Uppidy Canada and Lower Canada, could not over power the remaining regions. Now why does the PM pick senators for the regions and not local governments?