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Viewpoint: Breaking down the inequality of equalization Poll Yes My recent article on Alberta in Confederation has been criticized that my bias lacks an understanding of this controversial federal program – equalization. Alberta’s contribution was a misleading statement because it did not explain that federal revenues are from payments by Albertans and not from the government. Thus, this essay will delve into this program with references to four Alberta academics/economists – Robert Mansell, Mukesh Khanal, Trevor Tombe and Mark Milke. They have analyzed this program extensively. Undou...

Barnes booted from UCP caucus Poll Do you agree with the UCP caucus, which elected to remove Cypress-MH MLA Drew Barnes on Thursday? Yes Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes has been removed from the United Conservative caucus after the disgruntled official had been repeatedly and vocally opposing Premier Jason Kenney's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.--NEWS FILE PHOTO Local political observers say the UCP government is in trouble as the divisions in the party came to a head with the party’s MLA from the Peace Country and caucus chair penned a scathing letter released Thursday. Todd Loew...

Letter: Logic behind equalization outrage does not follow Poll Provincial government In response to Mr. Larry Samcoe’s May 6 editorial, “Alberta in Confederation.” Mr. Samcoe repeats, and seems to believe, the old standby lie of the perpetually aggrieved among some conservatives when he comments on the source of federal government equalization payments, stating “…tax revenues from Alberta have been the primary contributor…” Do not many on the political right know that Alberta pays no tax of any kind to Ottawa, and has never paid any, because of Constitution Act, section...

Alberta in Confederation Still at work Retired It is quite evident that Canada’s Confederation is not working harmoniously. Ottawa is failing the regions outside 1867 Canada [Ontario and Quebec]. Such assessment warrants examination. A 2020 publication, Moment of Truth, includes numerous articles which have been compiled by Jack M. Mintz, Ted Morton and Tom Flanagan, the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary. They address particularly Alberta’s experience. Donald J. Savoie, l’Universite de Moncton, states, “The idea of confederation came from Canada West [Ontario] and Canada ...

Viewpoint: How to build back better Poll Were you surprised the UCP government went back to stage one of its reopening plan on Tuesday? Yes Canada, like the rest of the world has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to better control its spread and to accelerate vaccinating the population have occupied our governments. Our next major undertaking is our country’s recovery. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the government’s plan for recovery on Nov. 30. The federal government will lead through expensive and elaborate social programs and with a shift to a gre...