Equalization payments are not a result of direct provincial transfers to Ottawa. That is a misconception being perpetrated by the advocates of Alberta separation.
Equalization Payments Come from Federal Taxes
They are wrong. Equalization payments come from federal taxes paid by all Canadians and Canadian companies. Wealthier provinces such as Alberta pay more on a per-capita basis due to the fact that our individuals and corporations earn more than the average Canadian individual or corporation. This is the easiest province in Canada to become wealthy in.
We think we deserve more? Why? What the federal government does with this tax revenue is its business. Distributing some of this revenue to provinces that are struggling economically relative to the “have” provinces makes sense. To suggest otherwise is just arrogance, greed and a sense of entitlement.
I was born in this province and spent 38 continuous years in the oil industry. I paid income tax at the highest marginal rate for the vast majority of my income. I am not complaining.
I am a proud Albertan. More importantly, I am also a proud Canadian.
Maybe we should stop whining. It’s becoming embarrassing.
Douglas Hittel, Calgary
Albertans Knew What They Were Signing
Again, the UCP rewrites reality to suit their own agenda. They claim those who signed the Forever Canadian petition offered their names to get a pro-Canada question on a referendum, and that petition director Thomas Lukaszuk has simply “changed his mind” about what the petition stands for.
Let me be clear: When I signed the Forever Canadian petition, I did it to show that I have absolutely no desire for our government to waste time and money on entertaining the idea of separation. My hope was to squash the possibility of a referendum altogether, so that our province could get moving on real priorities, such as fixing our health care and education systems, and strengthening economic certainty.
Come on, Premier Danielle Smith, own the fact that you want a separation referendum question on the ballot this fall, regardless of what the majority of Albertans want.
But do not weaponize my name to promote your agenda.
Catherine Van Brunschot-Dunk, Calgary
Question Got More Confusing
Although Premier Danielle Smith initially pleased me early in her video address by clearly stating she would vote to stay in Canada, the rest of her speech quickly went downhill with “bafflegab,” contradictions and appeasement.
Her bewildering “question” would fail in a Grade 8 English class, a grammarian would require at least one comma, a communication class would use it as an example of what not to do, voters will be totally confused and neither side will be pleased.
Ironically, she made her bogeyman — the federal government with its Clarity Act — look good.
As for our premier’s phrase, “sovereignty within a united Canada,” a common definition of “sovereign” is indistinguishable from separation, as a “governing body possessing supreme, ultimate power and independent authority.”
