bothered by it. Ottawa isnt going to give a bunch of rednecks a fair hearing, or a fair deal. Not because I am some political seer, but because I know where Bridgeland is in Calgary, how glorious Kananaskis is, and how treacherous Highway 2 can be in the winter. Sixty-three per cent of Manitobans also see Saskatchewan as a pal. He left the CBC earlier this year. As if he needed the boost. At the front of the dark, wood-panelled hall, a Canadian flag held aloft by two hockey sticks was displayed, inverted, on stage. To this day the NEP retains mythic status in Alberta as. Or: If they need revenue, why don't they have a sales tax? Tensions have been high between Canadas westernmost provinces, with Alberta and BC being at odds over the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project for the better part of 2018. That budget set the stage for the "flat tax" system, which set Alberta apart from other provinces for the next decade and a half. The following errors occurred with your submission. With lower prices, the two provinces take in less revenue and so receive more equalization money. that Downing, a former soldier and RCMP officer, had a history as a far right conspiracy theorist. Its hard to glean whether these are ambitious political organizers or keyboard warriors with delusions of grandeur. All of this will be used as proof of the underlying logic of Wexit: that the. Here is how Rachel Notley could really take the boots to B.C. In the interim until the Liberals can elect someone in Alberta one of the Liberal MPs from either Manitoba or perhaps the Territories could be an acceptable cabinet minister. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. Rather than shame the province out of the folly of separatism, I fear this will have the opposite effect. This is typically expressed by income percentile, and those at the very top pay by far the most, per person. From a purely environmental perspective the arguments used against the oil sands can be deployed against these, too. Have an idea? National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Instead, they recall Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, who addressed the convoys rally in Ottawa, allegedly speaking at the same event as racist alt-right personality Faith Goldy. Quebec: Does anyone know what is required to get from Quebec to usa? Equalization is a concept enshrined in the Constitution, but for Alberta, it could become the new NEP if not managed well. A friend described everyone from Ontario as assholes. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Alberta, with its lower tax rates and lack of provincial sales tax, doesnt have the same luxury because the equalization program assumes the province could just raise taxes if it needed to. What the institute found was that many provinces saw a kinship with their border-sharing neighbours though there were a few exceptions. If Trudeau wants to listen to the grievances of the West, he can pick up the phone and talk to anyone he likes. fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. The data definitely aligns with many Canadian's belief that Quebec is not particularly interested in the rest of Canada or engaged with the country. Whether Alberta should return to a "flat tax" on income has been the subject of debate recently. Originally published on Policy Options November 1, 2019. Or perhaps you, too, would opt to squander your wealth with, uh, high quality educational and health services and low taxeswhich has been the unwitting economic diversification strategy of Albertan governments since the 90s. God help any federal leader whos trying to campaign on a united message because this is not a country that is feeling united.. Thats all you are.. So let's take a look at the math to see how Alberta's previous and current tax systems compare both to each other, and to the rest of the country. Receive direct access to our top content, contests and perks. | CBC News Loaded, Fred Youngs doesn't claim to be a sage, but on one particular subject, he's the go-to guy among his neighbours in the "905.". Then he stepped into his manic, prairie-carnival-barker patter: Everybody is behind this movement. He did. Thats our term for ourselves. Returning to the Klein-era flat tax would not change any of this, other than to increase the "tax advantage" already enjoyed by the richest Albertanscompared to other provinces. Could Alberta pull off a full-blown boycott of Quebec? If he doesnt want to listen, no amount of representation will make a difference. he big difference between 1980 and today is that Alberta is a much larger player in the Canadian economy and in our national life than it was then. The phrase "Alberta tax advantage" figured heavily into thebudget introduced by Ralph Klein's government in the year 2000, which made income-tax reform a key plank. Copyright 2023 Buzz Connected Media Inc. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. No one in Alberta appears overly bothered by it. Its Albertas fault that it has no one at the table in Trudeaus cabinet. Perhaps the bigger issue with the program, however, is a rule established in 2009 by the Harper government, of which Kenney was a senior minister that links the growth rate of the transfer to nominal GDP. One for $20, or three hats for $50, they came in a variety of colours, reading Wexit and Make Alberta Great Again and The West Wants Out.. If we want to discuss politics, that's another situation altogether. Are you considering a Move to Alberta? Not only are Canadians surprisingly willing to throw theirleast favourite province under the bus, but it seems that a lot of Canadians also share the same feelings. The differences in fiscal capacities among the provinces have narrowed since that time, yet this escalator has pushed up overall program costs from about $14 billion in 2009 to nearly $19 billion this year. Facebook. There are various reasons why this approach either wont work or wont suffice this time around. Equalization only accounts for about eight per cent of the discrepancy in money going to the federal government and money going back to Alberta, but it tends to draw most of the anger. What's the deal with Alberta? Alberta heard not a peep from him when Encana announced last week that it would move its headquarters from Calgary to Denver. But it is going to take more than a part-time sage like me or a full-time one, for that matter to come up with the answers. The top one per cent ofearners paid 31.5 per cent of the total income tax collected in Alberta that year. We need to phase them out. But even if the province reverted to its old system, most Albertans would still pay more than people in B.C. Ontarians aren't fond of anyone; Alberta is the province most-liked by Ontarians, but only 28 per cent of them hold that affection; and 40 per cent of Ontarians don't consider any other province. The equalization program has been changed often, with some minor tweaks and some major overhauls. has a close relationship with their own province, and that feeling, in the same proportion, is reciprocated west of the Rockies. (For those interested in the nitty-gritty details, these calculations include both the high-income surtax and the health premiums charged in Ontario as part of the income-tax system. The NDP will never look after us. Kenney claims Equalization has become unfair to Alberta. I know my values very well, even if I no longer recognized Canada.. But the fact that it gains any traction at all is a telling sign of the fear, frustration and anger in Alberta. And, 21 per cent of Quebecers feel that way about their own province, too. They look ugly. It should have a board of directors made up of eminent Albertans. There are lots of good reasons for that. There is an attempt, here, to prise the iron-grip loyalty of the crowd, not just from the country, but from the conservative voting habits that have sustained the province for generations. The province therefore needs real voice and power in Ottawa today, as Ontario and Quebec have. But times have changed. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. We've helped lots of families relocate and we'd love to help you too! Through its advocacy role with other departments in Ottawa, the agency could bring a distinct Alberta voice to many important issues, at various levels of discussion and decision-making. 57% of Albertan respondents saw BC as unfriendly towards their own province, while 47% of British Columbians though similarily about their neighbours to the east. Alberta, they explain, just should have voted for a Liberal party that hates it. It's Albertans in the middle who don't fare as well, as you can see from the interactive chart below. And it should have sufficient funds say, $500 million a year to make an impact on the ground in that province. The Wexit Facebook page now boasts about a quarter-million members and its founder, Peter Downing, took to the front of the room wearing an Edmonton Eskimos jersey and asked the crowd to remove those caps to observe a moment of silence for the Alberta workers who have committed suicide since oil priced dropped in 2014, and the province lost an estimated 150,000 jobs. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Now, as did his father, Justin Trudeau must find a way to provide westerners with power. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Whether it's the place you grew up or a place you simply love to visit, every Canadian definitely plays favourites. Forty years and another Trudeau later, Albertans feel they're still on the outside looking in at a moment when their future is under siege. (David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Images). Thus began the modern era of Alberta alienation. There are a variety of factors to consider, The Eco 5 launches in Canada today reduces volume of food waste up to 90 per cent, The best in budget-friendly, lightweight and dual-action hair dryers, 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Ontario came a distant second, and the Atlantic provinces landed third overall. All rights reserved, The reason for the negative reviews about Quebec according to the poll is due to an average of only 5% of Canadians believing that the province is "close with or friendly" to the province they reside in. The attendees are mostly white; at least one has shown up wearing a Harley Davidson jacket patched with a Confederate flag, but there is as much Eddie Bauer in the room as leather. And it's generally true that Albertans pay less tax on the whole than other Canadians, when you add up all the different types of taxationthat all three levels of government throw at us. That and more apparently qualifies me in the eyes of friends and family to explain Alberta. It feels too futilelike trying to explain an emotion (and a not-always-rational one, as is the way with emotions)to people who dont want to hear it. The rate increases further, maxing out at 15 per cent on income above $307,547. It's around the $150,000 mark that Alberta returns to the lowest income-tax burden of all provinces. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The polling, drawn from an online survey of more than 4,000 Canadians across the country who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, a group of survey respondents, also says that a primary criticism from residents in Alberta and Saskatchewan, is that they dont benefit in proportion to whats provided to the rest of the country, as discontent over equalization payments bubbles up. Eventually, the questions wend their way to separation. A rule that made sense a decade ago, when Canada was in recession, might not make as much sense today. Justin Trudeau speaks on Canada Day. It was a move that produced nothing but recrimination. And thirdly, I would say we have allies across Canada. Next to pipelines, the thing Alberta Premier Jason Kenney seems to want most is a concession on Equalization, the program that redistributes $19 billion in federal revenue from richer to relatively poorer provinces, to ensure comparable levels of public services can be delivered across the country. I have only a few observations. You can see how it all breaks down in the chart below. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. Its invariably about which person will send the right message to a particular province or regions citizens to convince them that they will be heard in Ottawa. I wouldnt be surprised to see Wexit morph, in the national subconscious, into a fever dream of white nationalist uprising. Why are Albertans so mad? That seemed a bit much. But then so did Brexit. The rally began with a presentation that heavily implied that Canada is on the verge of a communist takeover; that the environmental movement is a front for a communist plot to establish some kind of one-world government. People were way friendlier for instance. Another interesting discovery from the survey was what appears to be Alberta taking the reigns as the most resentful province in the country. Franco Terrazzano: Canadians are united. One thing I have noticed is that people criticize Alberta a lot. Part of it is the tone that has been set from the top. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. And because the money comes out of general federal revenue, theres no way for Albertans to stop funding it short of refusing to pay their taxes. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Would this restore the "Alberta tax advantage" of the Klein era? Canadians are seen as friendly people on the international stage, but just how neighbourly are we with our fellow patriots across the country? If so, what is an Albertan meant to conclude from this? The only difference is that we are cutting the parasite of Eastern Canada off from our necks, Downing continues. Though it seems the biggest bone both Alberta and Saskatchewan have to pick is with Quebec. He's French. from Ottawahe has been lambasted as a politician attempting to stoke that sentiment for his own political gain. After spending more than a decade reporting from Alberta, I have to confess that Im tired of trying to explain western alienation to the East. The program intends to make sure provinces are providing comparable services across the country, but more often it is a political talking point. Ginned up, the crowd chants: The West wants out. A national media based primarily in the East seemed to declare the Bloc the only unmitigated winner in this federal election. That was enough to attract the support of eight MLAs from the province. It may buy time for the Trans Mountain pipeline to be built, for economic conditions to improve, or for political tensions to ease. The numbers have been updated to reflect that abatement. This is not, you know, a nation thats sort of unified across a cohesive confederation but one that very much seems to be sliced and diced into regional blocs, said Kurl. The oil price crash that continues to weigh on the economy was no politicians fault. 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. The characature of "Albertan" means more to people here than the truth. What to know about the PM's brother, Federal government reaches agreement for a new wage deal with striking workers, Jamie Sarkonak: Censorious Liberal attempt to block news article shows why they want to control the internet. Many Albertans circle this square with the assumption that Trudeau bought the pipeline to kill ita conspiracy that doesnt make much sense when you consider the expansion would be dead already if the federal government had done nothing. Every Canadian Province Agrees That They Hate Quebec, seems to have found the answer to Canada's most disliked province, Canada's Provinces Were Just Ranked From Best To Worst & One Got Serious Flak, Alberta Was Ranked Canada's 2nd Least Favourite Province & Its People Are The Problem, These 9 Maps Divide Canada Differently Including By Who Hates Toronto, Ontario Is One Of The Only Provinces That Feels Respected By Other Canadians, I Live In One Of Canada's Least Favourite Provinces & Here's Why It Doesn't Deserve The Hate, A Surprising Amount Of Albertans Want To Separate From Canada, Canadians Revealed Which Countries Give Them Bad Vibes & 2 Spots Are 'Clearly At The Bottom'. A recent Ipsos poll conducted for Global News found that roughly half of all Canadians entertained racist thoughts they wouldnt speak in public. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. They also reap the political rewards of the low hydro prices. Open pit mining doesnt seem to be under threat. Nevertheless, Trudeau should consider putting Equalization on the agenda of the next First Ministers Meeting to try to resolve some of these long-standing frictions and forge a stronger consensus on this key instrument of fiscal federalism. How much are these payments Alberta is making? Please attribute the author(s) and mention that the article was originally published by Policy Options magazine. The latter is perhaps worse, though there is recent precedent for it. The hostility is mostly in Alberta and Saskatchewan, unsurprising, given Premier Franois Legaults comments in December that theres no social acceptance for a pipeline that would pass through Quebec territory. Just one per cent of Albertans and two per cent of Saskatchewanians feel Quebec is friendly towards their province. This was the first year that the "flat tax" no longer applied in Alberta, but the progressive tax rates didn't escalate as quickly then as they do now. The party that was founded as an explicitly separatist vehicle. The green left has been leading a campaign to landlock our energy. (Can't see the chart? Do you stuff your piggy bank if you dont trust your parents not to knick it? Turning that question on its head saw respondents pointing out the province that they felt was giving more than it got by being a part of Canada. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Alberta heard not a peep from him when Encana announced last. Super Bowl-winning athlete talks football, his medical career and the importance of skin care. To make matters worse, 53% of the Canadians in the study believe that Quebec takes more than it gives to the Confederation. But when people think of taxes, they often think first of income tax. He was an embarrassment to Alberta. And there is no point in continuing to try to explain anger and alienation to people who do not want to hear it. In the 1970's, Trudeau created the National Energy Plan. Their taxes would be lower stillif the province were to revert to its flat tax system. Its deputy minister should be a well-respected official who has worked at the senior levels of the Alberta government. Most Albertans love Montreal, and many comment about how all the women are beautiful. iberal East looks down at you while it takes your wealth. are happy to take redistributed . It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Alberta calls Ontario the "center of the universe" then proceeds to claim its the entire driver of the Canadian . We apologize, but this video has failed to load. | Do you have something to say about the article you just read? If Ontario and Quebec, with the first- and second-largest gross domestic products respectively among the provinces, can have their own federal agencies for economic development, so should Alberta, which has the third-largest GDP not to mention the biggest economic adjustment challenge of any province if Canada is to move down the path to the decarbonization of its economy. And it is undeniable that Alberta is ponying up more money than it receives from the feds and it certainly receives less than other provinces. Confederation is hopelessly broken. At that point, Albertans pay about $1,200 more in provincial income tax than their neighbours to the west. When Kenney pins this decline on Trudeau, the East is not wrong to be a bit baffled. The United Conservative Party, meanwhile, recently endorsed a return to a flat tax. Whether its on here, or r/Canada, or r/BritishColumbia or any other non-Albertan sub. As news of Alberta's relaxing restrictions spreads across the country, people in Ontario are starting to call upon the provincial government to close off our borders to anyone from that province . Though the fact may seem hard to fathom to those in the East, a truly committed federalist has no better ally in Canada today than the premier of Alberta. Yet Alberta isnt passing legislation like Bill 21, which would bar members of the public service from wearing religious garb. In Alberta, 56% of respondents agreed with the statement, "Western Canada gets so few benefits from being part of Canada that they might as well go it on their own," up 28 points from 2010 . Alberta alone is still Alberta landlocked, and the solution won't be south of the border, because pipeline politics can be as tangled there as they are here. Politics in Alberta is weird, and we live in weirder times. But its a habit that leaves Albertans constantly seeing themselves and their grievances reflected back at them through a profoundly distorted lens. Bernier said this practice makes the provinces look poorer than they actually are and games the system. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Thus began the modern era of Alberta alienation. grows as you approach $75,000. Western Diversification is mandated to support economic diversification but also acts as an important advocate for regional interests in Ottawa, both within the bureaucracy and, usually, through a responsible minister at the cabinet table. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Still, the Atlantic provinces absent Prince Edward Island because the sample size was too small consider each other friends. You can even find embryonic western separation movements cropping up in the comment sections of news stories about the equalization program. You are either with Alberta or you're against it. At best, it may prove to be a kind of political harm-reduction strategy, a pressure valve for separatist sentiment. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. But an angry Twitter outburst aimed at Newfoundlanders because they voted for Liberals? Top smartwatches to sport: Great options to track your fitness, Laurent Duvernay-Tardifsets sights on what's next, Top performing coffee grinders for the perfect morning cup, EXCLUSIVE: Vitamix introduces FoodCycler turning food waste into plant food, 5 high-performance blow dryers for all hair types, tap here to see other videos from our team.
Categories
