Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s attempt to squeeze money from the equalization formula was hailed by Kenney and others as solid support for a changed formula.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
True, 61.7 per cent of those voting in the referendum supported Kenny’s desire to get rid of the equalization clause in the Canadian constitution.
But there were 2,353,000 eligible voters. Do the math. Just over one in four voters (27 per cent) supported Kenney’s position.
The rest either voted against or didn’t think the issue was important enough to bother voting. Few media news stories pointed out the discrepancy.
Only 44 per cent of voters filled out the equalization ballot.
That wasn’t the only bogus part of the equalization referendum.
Kenney has no power to change the equalization formula, which is a complex accounting that provides federal money to provinces so they can provide the same basic services across the country.
Alberta estimates $20 billion of its residents’ income taxes is used by the federal government for equalizations to the five provinces currently on the payment end of the formula.
Politics being deceitful as it is, Alberta has implied that it sends that money to Ottawa for dispersal.
The federal government uses tax money collected from the five so-called have provinces, including Saskatchewan, to pay for equalization.
It wasn’t too long ago that Saskatchewan was on the receiving end of equalization payments. In fact Premier Brad Wall was going to sue the feds for $800 million equalization allegedly owed Saskatchewan.
Wall “forgot’’ about the lawsuit when a Conservative government was elected federally.
For this fiscal year equalization payouts are $20.6 billion with the lion’s share of $13.1 billion to Quebec.
Other recipients are Manitoba, $2.7 billion; Nova Scotia, $2.3 billion; New Brunswick, $2.2 billion; and P.E.I., $484.000.
Quebec’s share of the payments has declined from 62 per cent to 59 per cent of the total in 10 years.
With almost seven years of oil price induced recession, Alberta’s government would like to share in the equalization pot.
Even with seven years of recession, Alberta has the highest average income of the 10 provinces, hardly making a case for federal welfare.
Perhaps if Kenney and company tried co-operation instead of caustic attitudes they might get somewhere.
Unfortunately Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe seems to be a fan of Kenney, mirroring Kenney’s pandemic policies.
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Moose Jaw City Council has decided to adopt a code of ethics. Among the issues that will be included in the code is a clause enabling council to grant leave of absence to a member running for provincial or federal legislative office.
That clause should be changed to require immediate leave of absence once the council member declares intent to run.
You can’t serve three masters at the same time, especially when some have conflicting interests.
Once a candidate declares they are focused on personal advancement and the other legislative body, not on city affairs.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
