At his rally, Downing anticipated this: Someone called us the Bloc Rednecois and thats okay. (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.). We simply dont want our little island ruined by the same thing that is going on in the rest of Canada. The median individual income was $41,770. Prince Edward Island was omitted from the chart due to too small of a sample size. Alberta is sometimes depicted as the author of its own misfortunesand the knock isnt entirely unfair. I dont know if this separatist sentiment in AlbertaWexit, if we mustis something to worry about. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. When Kenney pins this decline on Trudeau, the East is not wrong to be a bit baffled. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Copyright 2023 Buzz Connected Media Inc. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. The rally began with a presentation that heavily implied that Canada is on the verge of a communist takeover; that the environmental movement is a front for a communist plot to establish some kind of one-world government. An earlier version of this story didn't factor in the abatement on federal taxes that Quebec income-tax filers receive. Where Alberta only feels they are close with Saskatchewan. The oil price crash that continues to weigh on the economy was no politicians fault. He was senior producer and executive producer for CBC Newsworld (now CBC News Network) in Calgary from 1991 until 2006. 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. Why does there seem to be such a dislike of Alberta/Albertan - Reddit But when people think of taxes, they often think first of income tax. That and more apparently qualifies me in the eyes of friends and family to explain Alberta. Whether Alberta should return to a "flat tax" on income has been the subject of debate recently. Albertans hated his father. That makes Alberta the best province, from an income-tax point of view, to be living on low income. They also reap the political rewards of the low hydro prices. Would this restore the "Alberta tax advantage" of the Klein era? Ontario isn't friendly, Alberta resents everyone else and nobody likes Quebec: poll, 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? More than 700 people arrived at the event in Edmonton to hear a few speakers extol the benefits of Western separation. Its a sign of open disrespecteven war, in some places. Chief among them is Trudeau's Senate policy, which is founded upon nonpartisanship in the upper chamber, with no Liberal Senate caucus and no senators in the cabinet. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Finance Canada recently completed a review of Equalization but the government refused to make any substantive changes to the formula. An Albertan looking at equalization with the glass half-full might say the provinces wealth, relative to the rest of Canada, means its too rich to need help and thats a good thing. Trudeau bought the TMX line though the purchase offered absolutely no electoral benefit to himself or his party. But on one particular subject, at least amonga small group, I am the go-to person. 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. Access articles from across Canada with one account. It may follow the doomed and creepily fascistic, Western Canada Concept led by lawyer Doug Christie, who made a name for himself in the 80s by defending anti-semites and neo-Nazis. Were not alone., RELATED:Encana doesnt want to be Canadian anymore, and Trudeau shrugs. But I have a perspective and thoughts about where the frustration and anger come from that was formed from my time in Calgary, and by a brother-in-law in Red Deer who never misses a chance to remind me how important the oil and gas industry is to Ontario's economy. Low-income and high-income Albertans, meanwhile, enjoy the lowest taxes in the country. In 1957, the Liberals pushed through a trans-national pipeline to deliver natural gas from Alberta to central Canada after several years of delays, crises and complications. that Downing, a former soldier and RCMP officer, had a history as a far right conspiracy theorist. Its hard to glean whether these are ambitious political organizers or keyboard warriors with delusions of grandeur. 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. It's the place for possibilities,amarketplace of ideas. Ive seen a version of this play out in greater or lesser form again and again in reporting from Alberta. Facing a massive budget shortfall in the wake of the 2015 oil-price crash, the short-lived government of Jim Prentice introduced plans to kill the flat tax, but never passed the legislation before his Progressive Conservatives were defeated by Rachel Notley'supstartNDP. Bernier said this practice makes the provinces look poorer than they actually are and games the system. Let me ask: if you lived in a country where a plurality believed resource royalties more properly belonged to the nation as a whole rather than the province, how tempted would you be to save it? Nor is it shocking that within the crowd were dyed-in-the-wool racists and white nationalists. Around $100,000, Albertans pay less than Ontarians but still more than people in B.C. Do you stuff your piggy bank if you dont trust your parents not to knick it? Next to pipelines, the thing Alberta Premier Jason Kenney seems to want most is a concession on Equalization, the program that redistributes $19 billion in federal revenue from richer to relatively poorer provinces, to ensure comparable levels of public services can be delivered across the country. 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. Editing the piece is not permitted, but you may publish excerpts. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. The point isnt to deny that kooks and racists live in Alberta, nor to litigate which province is most racist, but rather to note that the stereotype serves a particular political function. I don't pretend to have answers or solutions. In October Pierre Trudeaus son Justin was re-elected with a minority government with no seats in the Prairies. He was an embarrassment to Alberta. It isnt calling for a values test for new immigrants. But it is going to take more than a part-time sage like me or a full-time one, for that matter to come up with the answers. by Eugene Lang. The characature of "Albertan" means more to people here than the truth. Thats all you are.. RELATED:Trudeau needs an Alberta unity strategy if he wins, Were announcing, right now, a watershed and a new reality in Canadian politics. Trudeau needs an Alberta unity strategy if he wins, The rise of Albertas unapologetic petro-patriots, Encana doesnt want to be Canadian anymore, and Trudeau shrugs, Re-election means never having to say youre sorry, The answer to Justin Trudeaus Western cabinet problem, Why Jason Kenneys proposed referendum is so puzzling, The uproar over Unplanned, and Canadas messed-up politics, Albertas straight-talking, belligerent statesman launches his own era, Albertas election, and the ugly politics in store for Canada, What Alberta voters should know about Jason Kenney and the UCP. Its Albertas fault that it has no one at the table in Trudeaus cabinet. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. In fact, the equalization fund comes from general federal revenues and grows each year in line with the economy. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. NaughtyOne88 6 mo. This article first appeared on Policy Options and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. That's quite a broad generalization! Angus Reid. Jen Gerson: 'Wexit' reflects a cartoon version of the province that other Canadians find easy to attackbecause it spares them the burden of self-examination, By Jen Gerson 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. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Alberta governments of every stripe love talking about the "tax advantage" in this province. Nefarious far-right conspiracies born in the dark heart of oil country, though never quite proven, are assumed. So if the PM 'forgets' to mention Alberta in his speech, can we 'forget' to send equalization payments? I know my values very well, even if I no longer recognized Canada.. It will take at least that much to contain Alberta alienation after this election outcome. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Just more than one-third of all Canadians believe Alberta gives more than they get to Confederation, while 16 per cent believe Saskatchewan does, too, followed by Atlantic Canada and Ontario, tied at 15 per cent. This goes a long way back to the corrupt and irrational politics of Alberta. The Albertans truly believe that Quebec is the succubus province of the entire country. All of this will be used as proof of the underlying logic of Wexit: that the. Eugene Lang is assistant professor at the school of policy studies at Queens University. We ask that you follow these guidelines. A friend described everyone from Ontario as assholes. I can't stand Harper. The government of Canada notes that there is one circumstance in which it is proper to display the flag inverted: as a symbol of distress. Why do Qubec and Alberta hate each other? (transfer, buying - City Seventy-one per cent of those in New Brunswick, for example, look fondly at Nova Scotia and 51 per cent of those in Newfoundland and Labrador look at Nova Scotia as a friend. So I suppose its not surprising that a convoy that left Alberta as a protest about pipelines arrived in Ottawa as a white nationalist vanguard. Hate is an understatement. There is a moral component to which industries were choosing to transition. The oil sands are greenhouse gas intensive. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Thus began the modern era of Alberta alienation. What's the deal with Alberta? | CBC News The Road AheadisCBC Calgary's special focus on our city as we build the city we want the city we need. 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. When a reporter parachutes into cattle country to root out a racist wacknut, the outlier and the anecdote become proof of the corrupt and immoral nature of the province and its political culture as a whole. November 7, 2019, The baseball caps were sold to the side of the rally at the Boot Scootin Boogie Dancehall last Saturday night. To paraphrase a proverb, screwing is in the eye of the beholder. That does not mean that Albertans hate people from Quebec, it means that Alberta want to stop subsidizing Quebec when the Alberta economy is in trouble. 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. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Top picks for different budgets, brands and other preferences. St. Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. In the interim until the Liberals can elect someone in Alberta one of the Liberal MPs from either Manitoba or perhaps the Territories could be an acceptable cabinet minister. And its lead grows from there. The UCP government (and the NDP) need to face facts, Trudeau hates Alberta! The following errors occurred with your submission. 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. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Here, we answer common questions and dispel some myths about the most resilient Alberta bogeyman. In his failed bid for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, MLA Richard Starke said the province had to stop offering charity to the rest of the country when it had fiscal problems at home. From a purely environmental perspective the arguments used against the oil sands can be deployed against these, too. The province therefore needs real voice and power in Ottawa today, as Ontario and Quebec have. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau forgot to mention Alberta during his Canada Day speech on the weekend, some aggrieved westerners reached for a familiar response to a slight from the East. The data definitely aligns with many Canadian's belief that Quebec is not particularly interested in the rest of Canada or engaged with the country. The delays included resistance from Albertans who weren't sure they had enough material to sell East and a preference to sell to the United States. It may buy time for the Trans Mountain pipeline to be built, for economic conditions to improve, or for political tensions to ease. The oil crash of 2014 and subsequent economic decline becomes a manifestation of divine justice. You can even find embryonic western separation movements cropping up in the comment sections of news stories about the equalization program. Many Albertans circle this square with the assumption that Trudeau bought the pipeline to kill ita conspiracy that doesnt make much sense when you consider the expansion would be dead already if the federal government had done nothing. 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University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said the program has room for improvement and agreed that some people may have legitimate grievances. All was forgiven and forgotten. Sorry, PEI. Oh yes. Every Canadian Province Agrees That They Hate Quebec When you watch the . On the other end of the spectrum, about 950,000 Albertanshad incomes of less than $25,000. What's the deal with Alberta? Perhaps Albertans would be more amenable to talking about this transition if this countrys commitment to climate change didnt seem so selective. Transportation is one of this countrys top greenhouse gas culprits, yet I cannot imagine Trudeau making a similar comment about southwest Ontarios car manufacturing plants, nor Quebecs aviation industry. The myth of the anti-Alberta Liberal - Canada's National Observer You can see how it all breaks down in the chart below. That seemed a bit much. There are various reasons why this approach either won't work or won't suffice this time around. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. The province therefore needs real voice and power in Ottawa today, as Ontario and Quebec have. As you can see from the interactive graph below, Alberta's highest-income earners carry a higher proportion of the tax burden than those in Ontario or Canada-wide. Answer: I suppose so, but not many people including Premier Jason Kenney seem too worried about Wexiters (really, really bad branding, by the way). 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. People were way friendlier for instance. Facebook. But an angry Twitter outburst aimed at Newfoundlanders because they voted for Liberals? Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Why are Albertans so mad? A recent Ipsos poll conducted for Global News found that roughly half of all Canadians entertained racist thoughts they wouldnt speak in public. I have only a few observations. Please reach out right away and we can start ma. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. There is a militancy to some of Wexits language and memestalk of civil war, for exampleand pictures of men in full military garb, that could foreshadow something darker and more violent. But the most common target of this rally is, in fact, mainstream Conservative politicians; Kenney, Stephen Harper and Andrew Scheer, who oversaw the current equalization formula that is pulling out billions worth of revenues more than what Alberta receives in transfers and services. The Green Party will definitely never look after us and now we see the Conservatives dont have our best interests in mind, said rally speaker Ambrose Ralph. That means half of Albertans earned less than that amount, and half earned more. He appointeda number of senators from the West into his cabinet as ministers and ministers of state, to represent the interests of those provinces lacking Liberal MPs. A rule that made sense a decade ago, when Canada was in recession, might not make as much sense today. The Liberals will never look after us. Alberta's basic personal tax credit now stands at $18,915, meaning Albertanseffectively pay no income tax to the provincial government on income up to that level. The polling, drawn from an online survey of more than 4,000 Canadians across the country who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, a group of survey respondents, also says that a primary criticism from residents in Alberta and Saskatchewan, is that they dont benefit in proportion to whats provided to the rest of the country, as discontent over equalization payments bubbles up. Could Alberta pull off a full-blown boycott of Quebec? It is very much a story of unrequited love in different parts of the country, said Kurl. Whether its on here, or r/Canada, or r/BritishColumbia or any other non-Albertan sub. Theyre a scapegoat, a channel for all the guilt and anxiety that we. Perhaps the bigger issue with the program, however, is a rule established in 2009 by the Harper government, of which Kenney was a senior minister that links the growth rate of the transfer to nominal GDP. 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. In 2012, he said on Radio-Canada: I always say, if there came a point where I thought Canada really was Stephen Harpers Canadathat we were against abortion, against gay marriage, that we went backwards in 10,000 different waysmaybe Id consider making Quebec a country. Here is alinkon how to do it. Tensions have been high between Canadas westernmost provinces, with Alberta and BC being at odds over the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project for the better part of 2018. More is needed this time around. Here is how Rachel Notley could really take the boots to B.C. 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.
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