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Thursday January 22, 2015

Thursday January 22, 2015Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 22, 2015

Kathleen Wynne issues infrastructure ‘challenge’ to federal leaders

Premier Kathleen Wynne wants all levels of government to invest about $100 billion a year to close Canada’s infrastructure gap.

With a federal election later this year, Wynne was in Ottawa on Tuesday to urge voters to opt for the party that will invest the money needed to build up the country.

“This isn’t about politics or who gets credit,” the premier told a Canada 2020 luncheon audience.

“I would be happy to put up as many ‘Economic Action Plan’ signs as it takes to help advance the economic strength of this province,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s familiar blue billboards that spring up wherever Ottawa is spending money on a new project.

“As we enter an election year, I issue a challenge to all the federal parties and their leaders.”

Wynne urged Harper, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May to “tell Canadians how you will help to build a stronger economic union across our country.”

“Tell us what you will do to help Canada catch up and ultimately take the lead when it comes to the kind of infrastructure that is essential for our economic competitiveness,” she said.

While Wynne often campaigns with Trudeau, she emphasized she is burying the hatchet with the Harper after more than a year of frosty relations with the Conservative prime minister.

“Two weeks ago, I had a positive and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Harper. We discussed a range of pressing issues, including the progress that is being made under existing infrastructure agreements,” she said. (Source: Toronto Star)

 

Wednesday September 19, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday September 19, 2012

Flag back in storage as Parti Québécois era begin

Before premier-designate Pauline Marois was again sworn in as an MNA Monday, the Parti Québécois stripped the Canadian flag from the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

And the sovereigntist party removed the Maple Leaf that adorned outgoing premier Jean Charest’s office for the past nine years. This is not the first time a PQ government has put the flag in storage. While the move may inflame passions among Quebec federalists and across the country, this time the symbolic gesture may be a particularly hollow one.

Ms. Marois led the PQ to a minority victory earlier this month with barely a third of the popular vote. She made no mention of sovereignty in her brief swearing-in speech. Nor did her election campaign place great emphasis on sovereignty, desire for which is at historic lows among Quebeckers.

Ms. Marois, who will be sworn in as premier Wednesday, said nothing about the flag removal in her remarks after the swearing-in ceremony. “Quebeckers chose change and they chose to do it with a Parti Québécois government,” Ms. Marois said.

“One of the changes is to put an end to the politics of division. What I wish is for Quebec to get back on course and reclaim its pride and confidence. When a people reclaims its pride and confidence, nothing, absolutely nothing, becomes impossible.”

Asked to respond to the removal of the Maple Leaf by the PQ government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office responded with a blunt “no comment.”

The swearing-in ceremony has always been an awkward affair for PQ members. They must pledge allegiance to the Queen as part of the mandatory official ritual of taking office. (Source: Globe & Mail) 

 

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)