Alberta budget, and the NDP effect...

[raab]

I think as many people as possible should see this because it's truly startling. The NDP are going to more then double our debt servicing cost over the next 3 years. This will mean we have to make tougher choices going forward with regards to healthcare and education. Our children and their's arent going to enjoy the luxuries that we have if this continues. Absolutely imperative that come 2019 the NDP are booted. If we could find a way to do it sooner that would be even better for this province.

http://finance.alberta.ca/publicatio...n-overview.pdf

Refer to page 7 and 9 for the Revenue and Expense tables. This is not sustainable going forward.

[nick0danger]

Here is the thing, with all the added debt, I have not seen an improvement in my services. I don't mind pay taxes but i want to see improvements, if i pay less I expect less, I pay more I want to see more.

In 2015-2016 the province spent 49,906 million, and in 2013-2014 the province spent 42,349 million, and for what?

Am I seeing better services, and seeing my money well spent NO. I know not all the new schools in Calgary are the NDP's doing, but they went way over board and spent millions more per school than needed, for nice wood and open ceilings (13 year old me would be tossing my lunch in those ceiling) and equipment schools don't need, $250,000 dust collectors, when a MUCH smaller one would of been fine, hydraulic stages really?

BC's provincial expenses was 42,349 in 2015-2016, when I am there I see better wildlife enforcement, I see better roads (arguable) and road improvements made, there public facilities all seem in better shape. Yes they pay more taxes but it seems to me they get more for there taxes. There Camping and parks, are all nicer and better cared for and not run down from over use cause there are enough campgrounds for everyone.

[raab]

Originally Posted by nick0danger

Here is the thing, with all the added debt, I have not seen an improvement in my services. I don't mind pay taxes but i want to see improvements, if i pay less I expect less, I pay more I want to see more.

In 2015-2016 the province spent 49,906 million, and in 2013-2014 the province spent 42,349 million, and for what?

Am I seeing better services, and seeing my money well spent NO. I know not all the new schools in Calgary are the NDP's doing, but they went way over board and spent millions more per school than needed, for nice wood and open ceilings (13 year old me would be tossing my lunch in those ceiling) and equipment schools don't need, $250,000 dust collectors, when a MUCH smaller one would of been fine, hydraulic stages really?

BC's provincial expenses was 42,349 in 2015-2016, when I am there I see better wildlife enforcement, I see better roads (arguable) and road improvements made, there public facilities all seem in better shape. Yes they pay more taxes but it seems to me they get more for there taxes. There Camping and parks, are all nicer and better cared for and not run down from over use cause there are enough campgrounds for everyone.

Yep, and the kicker is we'd need to increase taxes by 50% right now just to balance the budget and keep the same level of service. There's no way the current system is affordable going forward. Need to bring private sector investment in for healthcare and education.

Also extremely frustrating that we had all the debt paid off and the PC's decided to spend like drunken sailors putting us into a worse position then we were before. We might not be having this conversation if they had spent wisely after paying off the debt.

[Sooner]

It's like they know they may only have one shot and are going for it. Scary to hear how much we owe right now and they keep on pumping more out there.

[rugatika]

Full steam ahead I say. May as well crash the system and start over. Too much of a mess to bother saving now.

[dodger]

I love Alberta. All of the garbage going on in our government ( all parties ) makes me sad. I am glad to have lived through the best days this province had to offer.

Dodger.

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by dodger

I love Alberta. All of the garbage going on in our government ( all parties ) makes me sad. I am glad to have lived through the best days this province had to offer.

Dodger.

Man I miss Ralph.

[nick0danger]

No we do NOT need to privatize health care. They need to figure out how to get rid of the layers of management they have (even more installed under the NDP). The education system has to drop the Catholic and public boards the money saving there would be insane. I feel we should try and get everyone (rich and all) to send there kids to the local elementary school, i feel this would tighten our society and prevent divisions in Race, religion and economic classes. Growing up with diverse groups will help young people be accepting of each other.

[raab]

Originally Posted by dodger

I love Alberta. All of the garbage going on in our government ( all parties ) makes me sad. I am glad to have lived through the best days this province had to offer.

Dodger.

Let's hope better days are coming. It's hard to see with the way things are going right now, but you never know what the future holds.

[Bigwoodsman]

This got me to thinking.

When Ralph Klein took over the reins from Don Getty in 1992/93 there was a 29 Billion debt, that took till 2005 to pay off. I thought there was a law created to prevent future governments from running deficits?

Which government repealed this law preventing deficit budgeting? If I'm correct why hasn't anyone been prosecuted?

BW

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by nick0danger

No we do NOT need to privatize health care. They need to figure out how to get rid of the layers of management they have (even more installed under the NDP). The education system has to drop the Catholic and public boards the money saving there would be insane. I feel we should try and get everyone (rich and all) to send there kids to the local elementary school, i feel this would tighten our society and prevent divisions in Race, religion and economic classes. Growing up with diverse groups will help young people be accepting of each other.

We DO need private health care. As long as government is involved in an industry, there will be inefficiencies and waste.

Your comment in general reeks of socialism and the leftist agenda of acceptance. We should not be pushing for acceptance. We need contributors and leaders. More private schools.

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by nick0danger

No we do NOT need to privatize health care. They need to figure out how to get rid of the layers of management they have (even more installed under the NDP). The education system has to drop the Catholic and public boards the money saving there would be insane. I feel we should try and get everyone (rich and all) to send there kids to the local elementary school, i feel this would tighten our society and prevent divisions in Race, religion and economic classes. Growing up with diverse groups will help young people be accepting of each other.

I hate to let you in on this secret, but the government is not the model to follow if you want some sort of efficiency in any system.

[raab]

Originally Posted by nick0danger

No we do NOT need to privatize health care. They need to figure out how to get rid of the layers of management they have (even more installed under the NDP). The education system has to drop the Catholic and public boards the money saving there would be insane. I feel we should try and get everyone (rich and all) to send there kids to the local elementary school, i feel this would tighten our society and prevent divisions in Race, religion and economic classes. Growing up with diverse groups will help young people be accepting of each other.

We're spending 21B a year on healthcare with the baby boomers getting older. Even if we we're to run it more efficiently, I don't see how we cut 10B out of the system while providing more care going forward.

Lets be clear I'm not talking about getting rid of the public health system. I'm talking about letting private companies or non profits come in and run their own hospitals, residences, and treatment centers. By allowing this it gives the middle class an opportunity to expedite their care options, and in turn it reduces wait times for those who can't afford medical insurance.

Also lets not get fooled thinking there isn't already two tier healthcare in Canada. There is but its only available to the rich who fly down to the States and get anything they need done. I'd like to see the middle class afforded the same benefit.

I'll give you an example of the current system vs the system I propose. Let's say you need a knee surgery. Currently your put on a waiting list and wait anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on severity. You get to suffer waiting, which I've seen lots of when I worked in the current public system. In contrast if you bought health insurance and paid lets say 50 bucks a month. That surgery would be covered and you would get it done in less then two weeks. No suffering, your care was faster, and it let someone who couldn't afford health insurance get seen quicker. This is how you not only improve the public system but also care across the board. Worth mentioning that Canada is the only OECD country without two tier healthcare.

The same principle should be applied to schooling. Currently our class room sizes are out of control. We need more private investment to bring down not only the costs, but also the classroom sizes. I'd like to see classroom sizes under 20 per class. How can the public system do that, with the way its currently being run? We need to change how we fund kids by increasing the funding to each student and decreasing the amount we give to school boards. In turn where ever that student goes receives the students funding amount 100%. I believe we would see several schools pop up, and think this would be the ideal way to fix the problem.

[Redfrog]

Crazy eh? The NDP have always done a great job everywhere they have been the gov't.

Who knew it would be so much different here?

[Ronji]

The sad thing, and it does not matter which party is place, but the NDP especially, is that it is so easy to spend other peoples money. You and I both have to balance our check books, budget accordingly, and if we can not afford an item, we don't purchase it. If we do borrow, we are required to pay it back, or get foreclosed on.
They borrow, and borrow, and don't give a rats ass about worrying how to pay it back, because its not their money they have to pay back.

Carbon tax, its just a form of sales tax, nothing more or less.

Lets make Alberta green, and eliminate coal fired power plants. Next thing they'll be doing is damming the Sturgeon River!

They are so pathetic, and the only thing worse, is our current prime minister. He's going to wave his magic wand and everything will be ok.

[raab]

Originally Posted by Ronji

The sad thing, and it does not matter which party is place, but the NDP especially, is that it is so easy to spend other peoples money. You and I both have to balance our check books, budget accordingly, and if we can not afford an item, we don't purchase it. If we do borrow, we are required to pay it back, or get foreclosed on.
They borrow, and borrow, and don't give a rats ass about worrying how to pay it back, because its not their money they have to pay back.

Carbon tax, its just a form of sales tax, nothing more or less.

Lets make Alberta green, and eliminate coal fired power plants. Next thing they'll be doing is damming the Sturgeon River!

They are so pathetic, and the only thing worse, is our current prime minister. He's going to wave his magic wand and everything will be ok.

If you look at our Federal budget you'll get real PO'd. Our whole deficit basically is because of the high debt servicing. The majority of the National debt came from the interest on money we borrowed. Absolutely atrocious, and all parties can be blamed in that as well.

[lmtada]

I still have my Ralph Bucks. They might come, steal it from me.

http://wpmedia.calgaryherald.com/201...0&h=630&crop=1

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by dodger

I love Alberta. All of the garbage going on in our government ( all parties ) makes me sad. I am glad to have lived through the best days this province had to offer.

Dodger.

x2 I worry about what the future has in store for my children and grandchildren.

[Redfrog]

Balanced budgets?? Nothing anyone can do to balance budgets. They balance themselves.

[From The Hip]

Tax and spend MORE is the credo of the NDP.All the while being "inclusive" to the NDP cronies.

FTH

[hillbillyreefer]

But come on raab, when the socialists were busy going after one segment of society you were the biggest cheerleader on here. It isn't that awesome when they finally turn on you is it?

It's good to see that we are all in this together, as soon as they come after you.

[coreya3212]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

But come on raab, when the socialists were busy going after one segment of society you were the biggest cheerleader on here. It isn't that awesome when they finally turn on you is it?

It's good to see that we are all in this together, as soon as they come after you.

All day^^^^^^^^^long

[hal53]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

But come on raab, when the socialists were busy going after one segment of society you were the biggest cheerleader on here. It isn't that awesome when they finally turn on you is it?

It's good to see that we are all in this together, as soon as they come after you.

[raab]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

But come on raab, when the socialists were busy going after one segment of society you were the biggest cheerleader on here. It isn't that awesome when they finally turn on you is it?

It's good to see that we are all in this together, as soon as they come after you.

Government is there to protect its citizens from others. Having some sort of legislation protecting those who work in agriculture is needed. Every other province in Canada has this. How they went about it I didn't like and still disagree with. As usual the NDP screwed up something that should have been an easy thing to fix.

Edit: If you think its a good thing that huge agriculture companies can pay people 5 dollars an hour, while providing no insurance. I have to question your judgement. The problem with the legislation and the whole process from the beginning was lack of consultation and the consideration for small farmers. I have no problem saying that, and I've maintained that since seeing the NDP do nothing with regards to consultation.

[hal53]

Originally Posted by raab

Government is there to protect its citizens from others. Having some sort of legislation protecting those who work in agriculture is needed. Every other province in Canada has this. How they went about it I didn't like and still disagree with. As usual the NDP screwed up something that should have been an easy thing to fix.

Edit: If you think its a good thing that huge agriculture companies can pay people 5 dollars an hour, while providing no insurance. I have to question your judgement. The problem with the legislation and the whole process from the beginning was lack of consultation and the consideration for small farmers. I have no problem saying that, and I've maintained that since seeing the NDP do nothing with regards to consultation.

As we tried to tell you many times a year ago...farm workers were not getting paid 5 bucks an hour, and the vast majority of them had better insurance than WCB, ,the whole scam has ulterior motives...

[raab]

Originally Posted by hal53

As we tried to tell you many times a year ago...farm workers were not getting paid 5 bucks an hour, and the vast majority of them had better insurance than WCB, ,the whole scam has ulterior motives...

You can believe what you want by heard there were some abusing the law. Not small farmers, but bigger places that were hiring immigrants and paying them less then minimum wage. The problem with the law is its a blanket law and doesn't take into account the needs of the family farmer.

[Elk Chaser]

Bob Rae and the NDP put the boots to Ontario, Darrell Dexter and the NDP put the boots to Nova Scotia. Alberta is under the NDP jackboots as we speak. I truly hope that all the yuppies that put them in power are getting theirs right now.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Crazy eh? The NDP have always done a great job everywhere they have been the gov't.

Who knew it would be so much different here?

Some people are not capable of learning from other people's mistakes, they just have to take a leak on the electric fence to see what happens.

[hal53]

Originally Posted by raab

You can believe what you want by heard there were some abusing the law. Not small farmers, but bigger places that were hiring immigrants and paying them less then minimum wage. The problem with the law is its a blanket law and doesn't take into account the needs of the family farmer.

So...you "heard" that some were abusing the law?..so that's what made you jump on the band wagon and completely support Bill 6??......

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by raab

We're spending 21B a year on healthcare with the baby boomers getting older. Even if we we're to run it more efficiently, I don't see how we cut 10B out of the system while providing more care going forward.

Lets be clear I'm not talking about getting rid of the public health system. I'm talking about letting private companies or non profits come in and run their own hospitals, residences, and treatment centers. By allowing this it gives the middle class an opportunity to expedite their care options, and in turn it reduces wait times for those who can't afford medical insurance.

Also lets not get fooled thinking there isn't already two tier healthcare in Canada. There is but its only available to the rich who fly down to the States and get anything they need done. I'd like to see the middle class afforded the same benefit.

I'll give you an example of the current system vs the system I propose. Let's say you need a knee surgery. Currently your put on a waiting list and wait anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on severity. You get to suffer waiting, which I've seen lots of when I worked in the current public system. In contrast if you bought health insurance and paid lets say 50 bucks a month. That surgery would be covered and you would get it done in less then two weeks. No suffering, your care was faster, and it let someone who couldn't afford health insurance get seen quicker. This is how you not only improve the public system but also care across the board. Worth mentioning that Canada is the only OECD country without two tier healthcare.

The same principle should be applied to schooling. Currently our class room sizes are out of control. We need more private investment to bring down not only the costs, but also the classroom sizes. I'd like to see classroom sizes under 20 per class. How can the public system do that, with the way its currently being run? We need to change how we fund kids by increasing the funding to each student and decreasing the amount we give to school boards. In turn where ever that student goes receives the students funding amount 100%. I believe we would see several schools pop up, and think this would be the ideal way to fix the problem.

Fat chance you'd get health insurance like that for $50 bucks a month, more like $500 maybe. That is the only way to keep the riff raff out of the system, they are the ones that are the biggest burden on health care because they partake of drugs and alcohol too much and don't live a healthy lifestyle. And when paying that $500 per month we would be able to write it off for tax purposes, while the riff raff doesn't even make enough to need a sweet tax write off like that.