So did Donald Trump. Click or tap on the tabs below to switch between jurisdictions: In a nutshell, Albertansacross the income spectrum pay less tax on their earnings than people in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. 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. You are welcome to republish this Policy Options article online or in print periodicals, under a Creative Commons/No Derivatives licence. That is why we are rude to you, we don't want you here, nor do we want your modern problems that you have on the mainland. Off the top, separating from Canada seems like a very bad idea. 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. On the other end of the spectrum, about 950,000 Albertanshad incomes of less than $25,000. No doubt some attendees were shocked by the sight of an upside down flag at the front of the room. By comparison, the bottom 50 per cent paid2.3 per cent of the income tax. These richest Albertans also pay alarger share of the total income taxes collected in Alberta, compared to the wealthiest people in other parts of the country. It's Albertans in the middle who don't fare as well, as you can see from the interactive chart below. (Can't see the chart? 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. 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. The other big part of the story is the resentment of Alberta, which is also especially significant in terms of Albertans feeling not particularly close to any province other than Saskatchewan, said Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute. Meaning it might be time for Canadians to reconcile and hug it out. 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 . Thats our term for ourselves. And in the meantime, we have to manage that transition.. His papa hated Alberta and the apple didn't fall far from the tree. iberal East looks down at you while it takes your wealth. There are various reasons why this approach either won't work or won't suffice this time around. 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. But even if the province reverted to its old system, most Albertans would still pay more than . But times have changed. Ontario came a distant second, and the Atlantic provinces landed third overall. That assumption emerged from Quebec's past attempts at an independence referendum. 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. In a bid to woo Albertans in the recent Conservative Party leadership race, Maxime Bernier said he would freeze the program and completely rethink it. Sign up for our newsletter and get a curated list of the top READ MORE:Justin Trudeau's Current Approval Ratings Are In And Here's Which Province Hates Him The Most. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. Its deputy minister should be a well-respected official who has worked at the senior levels of the Alberta government. There are random questions. It isnt calling for a values test for new immigrants. Some Albertans look at per capita federal transfer payments equalization is just one and the massive amount of federal income tax flooding into Ottawa from Alberta, and believe theyre getting a raw deal. I have only a few observations. For example, Alberta pulls in about $1,388 per capita, while Nova Scotia gets $3,243 per capita in federal transfers. 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. Next, longtime provincial Conservative party organizer Craig Chandlerwho earlier this year was the campaign manager for Jason Kenneys Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Minister Tanya Firtook to the stage to shill for an Alberta First purchasing program encouraging residents to opt for products produced by their neighbours. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. week that it would move its headquarters from Calgary to Denver. There is at least one major politician in this country who has publicly expressed a desire to separate from Canada if he didnt get his way politically. Source:National Post,Angus Reid Institute. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Given its ugly far-right antecedents, and the lack of any plausible path toward creating a land-locked prairie state, its hard to know whether western separatism is going to remain the sort of thing that more serious people will only discuss sub rosa. The real sore thumb that stuck out, however, was everyprovinces view of Quebec. Even still, the wild west ranked each other reasonably high on the charts, with BC coming in as third most close with Albertans, and Alberta landing as BCs number one (though, technically, none was BCs first choice). Albertans must know that climate change is something the world is taking seriously; that demand for the oilsands will, inevitably, declineand this province along with it if it fails to diversify its economy. But the bust was inevitable and predictable. NaughtyOne88 6 mo. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. It's around the $150,000 mark that Alberta returns to the lowest income-tax burden of all provinces. It seems like a more benign entity now for being merely opportunistic in its pursuit of an ever-better deal for Quebec. 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. Days after the 2006 general election, Stephen Harper convinced a Liberal MP, David Emerson, to join his Conservative cabinet. Didnt he buy you a pipeline? The protestors themselves, patch workers with little experience in political organization or communications, lacked the common sense or discipline to eject such people. No doubt some attendees were shocked by the sight of an upside down flag at the front of the room. Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Pierre Trudeau appointed multiple senators from the West to his cabinet. Premier Jason Kenney has become one of the most hated leaders in modern Alberta history, according to a new poll by ThinkHQ. I had long chalked this up to habit. But they also can hold two contradictory thoughts in their heads, and they don't doubt that Albertans in the energy industry need more help and support for whatever the future holds. And they are not of Alberta, but rather of Canada. Everything you need to know about the federal equalization program, Florida Panthers refuse to sell tickets to non-U.S. residents as Leafs move to second round, FIRST READING: The evidence against Trudeau's claim he didn't 'force' vaccination, Who is Alexandre 'Sacha' Trudeau? If we want to discuss politics, that's another situation altogether. With apologies to Anne McLellan, who was tapped to be an informal advisor on Alberta to the Liberals, this lack of representation seems solely a concern to people who live in Ontario. My personal favourite is the do-they-really-believe-that question, as in: Do Albertans really believe that the Liberals would spend $4.5 billion to buy a pipeline only to kill it? 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. 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. It will take at least that much to contain Alberta alienation after this election outcome. What I do predict is that the Wexit leaders currently fronting Facebook pages will be discredited. He left the CBC earlier this year. But the fact that it gains any traction at all is a telling sign of the fear, frustration and anger in Alberta. This is typically expressed by income percentile, and those at the very top pay by far the most, per person. Noting this blockage, others have suggested more radical moves, such as appointing to cabinet an Albertan who is not in either parliamentary chamber or convincing an opposition MP from Alberta to cross the floor and join the Liberal caucus and cabinet. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. That's a matter of political debate. He sees the program as transferring revenue from Alberta taxpayers to governments in other provinces. But then so did Brexit. Conversely, the highest-income Albertans still pay the lowest taxes in the country, even with the progressive tax brackets the province recently adopted. It should have a board of directors made up of eminent Albertans. Nearly 40 years ago, in February 1980, Pierre Trudeau won a majority government with two seats in western Canada and none west of Manitoba. 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. 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. All of this will be used as proof of the underlying logic of Wexit: that the liberal East looks down at you while it takes your wealth. When Kenney pins this decline on Trudeau, the East is not wrong to be a bit baffled. The only difference is that we are cutting the parasite of Eastern Canada off from our necks, Downing continues. While Canada as a whole is a gorgeous country, you'd be lying if you said you didn't have special feelings towards at least one province. Here's total per capita federal transfers to prov govts for 2016/17. Alberta heard not a peep from him when Encana announced last. 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. Thats all you are.. 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. But on one particular subject, at least amonga small group, I am the go-to person. (In that first year, the rate increased to 10.5 per cent for income above $125,000 and maxed out at 11.25 per cent on earningsabove $300,000.). https://t.co/y03ojZNZv8. Low-income and high-income Albertans, meanwhile, enjoy the lowest taxes in the country. Theyve been the subject of years of protests and exposs. We could go back in time, to the National Energy Program, to 1905, to Frederick Haultain, to the doomed province of Buffalo; to the railways, the crow rate, and the robber barons of the East. 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. Super Bowl-winning athlete talks football, his medical career and the importance of skin care. Again, the most recent data comes from 2015. Kenney claims Equalization has become unfair to Alberta. Are you considering a Move to Alberta? 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. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Souhaitez-vous ragir cet article ? When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. These are people who fret about the climate crisis and what it bodes for their children. Does it even need to be fixed? Sorry, PEI. People were way friendlier for instance. The program intends to make sure provinces are providing comparable services across the country, but more often it is a political talking point. Confederation is hopelessly broken. I'm not often taken for a sage, someone whose thoughts are sought on matters of great import or complexity. Email: sxthomson@postmedia.com | Twitter: stuartxthomson. It will take at least that much to contain Alberta alienation after this election outcome. The survey, part of a four-part series on western Canadian identity, found that, on average, just five per cent of Canadians outside Quebec believe that Quebec is close with or friendly towards their own province; whats more, 53 per cent believe that la belle province takes more from Confederation than it gives. If Trudeau wants to listen to the grievances of the West, he can pick up the phone and talk to anyone he likes. Absolutely. Fred Youngs was a journalist for CBC News in Winnipeg, Calgary and Toronto. That said, other provinces arent super keen on each other either, highlighting a cantankerous confederation. But when people think of taxes, they often think first of income tax. A protection I figure. Have an idea? Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. Story. 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. Its even chillier in New Brunswick, where just 13 per cent return Quebecs affection (40 per cent said they felt close with their neighbour). 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. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. At the front of the dark, wood-panelled hall, a Canadian flag held aloft by two hockey sticks was displayed, inverted, on stage. But even if the province reverted to its old system, most Albertans would still pay more than people in B.C. Why would we give them what they want?. is Canadas favourite province, but not because of the people, poll finds, 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. But in the end, I tell them, it is a telling example of Albertans' belief that their economic might, their enterprise and their hard work have again been taken for granted by a Liberal government that promised to be different, open and inclusive. 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 .
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