Confederation

Friday May 26, 2006

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday May 26, 2006 Klein threatens to abandon equalization Alberta would pull out of the federal equalization program rather than see the other provinces benefit from its oil and natural gas resources, Premier Ralph Klein said. Klein said on Wednesday he's ready to fight with the eastern provinces to keep Alberta's resource revenues out of the equalization program, which sends federal money to poorer provinces so they can provide services such as health care. At a meeting next month, other premiers are expected to suggest that Alberta's oil revenues can be included in the calculations that determine how much cash each province gets from Ottawa. "This is political showdown," Klein said. "This is also a constitutional issue. Alberta has control and authorization and authority over its resources." And he said he's willing to walk away from the program altogether. But University of Alberta political scientist Steve Patten suggests Klein can't really do that, and his bluster won't go far among the premiers, even if it works to whip up long-standing anti-eastern sentiment among Albertans. Equalization payments come from federal government revenues, such as federal income tax, not from Alberta's bank accounts, Patten said. Pulling out, he said, would have no effect on the program.Ê(Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/klein-threatens-to-abandon-equalization-1.591424 Canada, Alberta, Ralph Klein, Equalization, federalism, Confederation, panhandlers, finance, transfer, payments

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 26, 2006

Klein threatens to abandon equalization

Alberta would pull out of the federal equalization program rather than see the other provinces benefit from its oil and natural gas resources, Premier Ralph Klein said.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday October 14, 2005 Alberta to spend $10-million to hand out cheques It is no longer called the "prosperity bonus," but Albertans finally learned yesterday how the provincial government plans to dole out at least $1.4-billion in dividend cheques. Many have been eagerly awaiting the details since Premier Ralph Klein announced in September that a plan was in the works to give all residents, including the homeless, a small slice of the province's ballooning unbudgeted surplus. Fuelled by oil and natural-gas royalties, the surplus could be as high as $8.8-billion this year, Mr. Klein said recently.Ê But the one-time dividend, which government officials now call a "resource rebate," has not been free of controversy. There has been criticism that the money could be better spent -- for example, on eliminating health-care premiums -- and that the $400 cheques may promote national envy of the province's wealth. "I don't know where that comes from," Finance Minister Shirley McClellan told reporters yesterday. The program is expected to cost $10-million to administer. (Source: Globe & Mail)Êhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-to-spend-10-million-to-hand-out-cheques/article18249998/ Canada, Premiers, first ministers, federalism, oil, resource, wealth, Ralph Klein, Alberta

October 14, 2005

Klein said on Wednesday he’s ready to fight with the eastern provinces to keep Alberta’s resource revenues out of the equalization program, which sends federal money to poorer provinces so they can provide services such as health care.

At a meeting next month, other premiers are expected to suggest that Alberta’s oil revenues can be included in the calculations that determine how much cash each province gets from Ottawa.

“This is political showdown,” Klein said. “This is also a constitutional issue. Alberta has control and authorization and authority over its resources.”

And he said he’s willing to walk away from the program altogether.

But University of Alberta political scientist Steve Patten suggests Klein can’t really do that, and his bluster won’t go far among the premiers, even if it works to whip up long-standing anti-eastern sentiment among Albertans.

Equalization payments come from federal government revenues, such as federal income tax, not from Alberta’s bank accounts, Patten said. Pulling out, he said, would have no effect on the program. (Source: CBC News)