Eliminate 3 Rural Ridings, Create 3 Urban Ones

[HowSwedeItIs]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...rray-1.4131742

Not good news- the recommendation by the committee would further weaken the voice of rural Albertans and limit the ability of their MLA's to effectively represent their interests. This is especially concerning given the significance of the next election.

[alta270]

Originally Posted by HowSwedeItIs

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...rray-1.4131742

Not good news- the recommendation by the committee would further weaken the voice of rural Albertans and limit the ability of their MLA's to effectively represent their interests. This is especially concerning given the significance of the next election.

Yeah, I agree, but the legislation does allow for significant variance in populations. If it went strictly by population with a narrow margin of variance, the rural areas would be really hooped.

I thought the results could have been much worse.

[Jack Hardin]

Rural doesn't vote NDP, which must make rural folks the smartest people in Alberta.

NDP want dumbed down people, therefore they make more urban ridings.

See now, how it works?

[Grizzly Adams]

Urban ridings contain more new Canadians, especially in Ontario and Quebec. guess who they tend to vote for?

Grizz

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by Jack Hardin

Rural doesn't vote NDP, which must make rural folks the smartest people in Alberta.

NDP want dumbed down people, therefore they make more urban ridings.

See now, how it works?

No. How it works is more equal representation by population.

To imply otherwise is stupid.

[browning21]

The NDP are doing what ever they think is necessary to ensure that they have the best chance of getting re-elected. Most of the stimulus spending that is happening is on hospitals and schools that they will fill with what they hope are left thinking NDP voters. Less rural ridings fits right in with this plan. They are hell bent on fixing what they believe is every social injustice. Even if the NDP are defeated in the next election, I don't believe that we will ever recover from the damages that the NDP are doing to Alberta. RIP Alberta Advantage!

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by browning21

The NDP are doing what ever they think is necessary to ensure that they have the best chance of getting re-elected. Most of the stimulus spending that is happening is on hospitals and schools that they will fill with what they hope are left thinking NDP voters. Less rural ridings fits right in with this plan. They are hell bent on fixing what they believe is every social injustice. Even if the NDP are defeated in the next election, I don't believe that we will ever recover from the damages that the NDP are doing to Alberta. RIP Alberta Advantage!

So, you're not a fan of equal representation?

(ps, Alberta still maintains the Alberta Advantage despite what UCP might want you to believe)

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

So, you're not a fan of equal representation?

(ps, Alberta still maintains the Alberta Advantage despite what UCP might want you to believe)

Yes, if one is a union hack or a public service worker, other wise BS. All thanks to record deficits.

[alta270]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Urban ridings contain more new Canadians, especially in Ontario and Quebec. guess who they tend to vote for?

Grizz

Many are actually conservative by nature, and Jason Kenney did a good job tapping into that. He was at every ethnic event he could find.

[riden]

I actually expected to see more seats go towards urban Alberta. If they can't create any new seats (right thing to do), there has to be fewer rural seats.

You can't deny that Calgary and Edmonton have seen the greatest population growth. They argue they are underrepresented, and it's hard to call them wrong.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by dmcbride

Yes, if one is a union hack or a public service worker, other wise BS. All thanks to record deficits.

Lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada.

You're wrong, once more.

[alta270]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

Lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada.

You're wrong, once more.

Are you aware that you are talking oranges, as compared to apples? The deficits ARE at record highs, and if they continue, that lowest debt to GDP ratio will quickly disappear.

The worst part is that the deficits are used for operating costs, not capital, where an argument can be made that infrastructure for growth is being developed. We used to run a surplus, and our debt was paid off.

Now, $1 billion a year goes to pay the interest on that debt. That is $1 billion that could be used for services. Do you not see that as an issue?

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

Lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada.

You're wrong, once more.

For now, all with no plan to balance the budget and you see no problem. It is a good thing the previous government didn't leave a huge debt.

[densa44]

It could be worse but it is still bad. It will create fights for the WR/PC nomination in a number of ridings, maybe all of them, these are more ugly than elections and could hurt the party's chances.

By making the rural riding larger and not adding seats it has a greater effect on the right wing representation. You have lost 3 seats before you start and those seats have probably gone to the opposition.

How you add these seats to the cities can pretty much guarantee who will win the seat.

The member who observed that the government was doing this to help themselves is of course correct.

[browning21]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

So, you're not a fan of equal representation?

(ps, Alberta still maintains the Alberta Advantage despite what UCP might want you to believe)

If this keeps up we will have 6 ridings outside of the cities in Alberta. Actually having 87 MLS's making at least 134k /year ea. is kind of ridiculous when about 60 of them have little or no say in what or how things are done. Maybe divide the province into 27 ridings and make them work together for all Albertans rather than just for the cronies of whoever is in power at the time.

PS: The Alberta advantage died with Ralph (RIP).

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by alta270

Are you aware that you are talking oranges, as compared to apples? The deficits ARE at record highs, and if they continue, that lowest debt to GDP ratio will quickly disappear.

The worst part is that the deficits are used for operating costs, not capital, where an argument can be made that infrastructure for growth is being developed. We used to run a surplus, and our debt was paid off.

Now, $1 billion a year goes to pay the interest on that debt. That is $1 billion that could be used for services. Do you not see that as an issue?

Fixing a run-down house costs money.

Or you could just let the house fall down, and live in the ruins.

It's the price we pay for lack of foresight by the previous government.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by dmcbride

For now, all with no plan to balance the budget and you see no problem. It is a good thing the previous government didn't leave a huge debt.

Too bad they neglected the province, and couldn't balance a budget at oil prices twice what they are now, eh?

But, yes, a play for repayment is needed.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by browning21

If this keeps up we will have 6 ridings outside of the cities in Alberta. Actually having 87 MLS's making at least 134k /year ea. is kind of ridiculous when about 60 of them have little or no say in what or how things are done. Maybe divide the province into 27 ridings and make them work together for all Albertans rather than just for the cronies of whoever is in power at the time.

PS: The Alberta advantage died with Ralph (RIP).

So, you're against equal representation. Got it. Work with your local MLA to have voting privileges available for only you and those who think like you.

PS, you're still wrong.

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

Too bad they neglected the province, and couldn't balance a budget at oil prices twice what they are now, eh?

But, yes, a play for repayment is needed.

Curious how the province was neglected?

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by dmcbride

Curious how the province was neglected?

Nope.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

No. How it works is more equal representation by population.

To imply otherwise is stupid.

MLAs represent people, not land. City residents deserve equal representation. Alberta has become increasingly urbanized. Like it or not, it's a fact.

[lmtada]

Three seats will determine B.C. Fate.

[JimPS]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

MLAs represent people, not land. City residents deserve equal representation. Alberta has become increasingly urbanized. Like it or not, it's a fact.

But politicians in rural Alberta have over represented the land barons since our inception - from being one big ranch to a province in 1905 - that was until our most recent election.

Old ways and power die hard. The big land barons hated the homesteaders and called them maggots.

Today's privileged rural gentry view city people pretty much the same way.

[gman1978]

Originally Posted by JimPS

But politicians in rural Alberta have over represented the land barons since our inception - from being one big ranch to a province in 1905 - that was until our most recent election.

Old ways and power die hard. The big land barons hated the homesteaders and called them maggots.

Today's privileged rural gentry view city people pretty much the same way.

Geez! You must have a big chip on your shoulder about the rual folk for some reason! Most rual people I know vote conservative and do scoff at the city's voting liberal but they don't go as low to call them maggots. I can't understand why somebody would vote liberal either but I don't call them maggots.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by gman1978

Geez! You must have a big chip on your shoulder about the rual folk for some reason! Most rual people I know vote conservative and do scoff at the city's voting liberal but they don't go as low to call them maggots. I can't understand why somebody would vote liberal either but I don't call them maggots.

I don't think it's him with the chip.

If you read some history about the settlement of the prairies, it tells of how the established land owners looked down on newcomers, especially if they were immigrants.

[hal53]

Originally Posted by Badgerbadger

Lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada.

You're wrong, once more.

Alberta's credit rating was down graded yet again today.. care too let us know how much we are paying in interest alone yearly right now?...you're right we are darn lucky to have these clowns in power Thanks!!

[hal53]

Originally Posted by JimPS

But politicians in rural Alberta have over represented the land barons since our inception - from being one big ranch to a province in 1905 - that was until our most recent election.

Old ways and power die hard. The big land barons hated the homesteaders and called them maggots.

Today's privileged rural gentry view city people pretty much the same way.

If there is no oil, no mining, no forestry, no agriculture what do we need the cities for?......the cities evolved as the support system for the economic drivers of our province, nothing more, nothing less

[JimPS]

Originally Posted by gman1978

Geez! You must have a big chip on your shoulder about the rual folk for some reason! Most rual people I know vote conservative and do scoff at the city's voting liberal but they don't go as low to call them maggots. I can't understand why somebody would vote liberal either but I don't call them maggots.

I'm landed gentry in a rural area, I don't call righties or lefties maggots and I don't have a chip on my shoulder about it.

Read some history.

[Badgerbadger]

Originally Posted by hal53

Alberta's credit rating was down graded yet again today.. care too let us know how much we are paying in interest alone yearly right now?...you're right we are darn lucky to have these clowns in power Thanks!!

Too bad there's no Heritage Trust Fund to protect Albertans from downturns in the economy, eh? Must be Ceci's fault.

[JimPS]

Originally Posted by hal53

If there is no oil, no mining, no forestry, no agriculture what do we need the cities for?......the cities evolved as the support system for the economic drivers of our province, nothing more, nothing less

The cities in Alberta evolved as markets for agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing and petroleum products - probably in that order too. Oil being the last.

What do you want to do - export all our products, raw resources, crude oil and business control to China?

"Cities evolved as the support system for the economic drivers of our province, nothing more, nothing less". What?

You sound like one of those old guys that still thinks women are a life support system for a ........ oh never mind - you wouldn't get it anyway.