Hydraboss

So really, federal politicians will be helping to heat our homes? Excellent.

"Leftist posters such as Hydraboss - and no doubt the CBC - " August, this is without doubt the best post I have ever read that involved me. I'm a leftist now, huh? Priceless. My take? Geoff started down the road.... Ensure that whatever the O&G companies are being charged (and call it whatever you like) is fully tax deductible on a federal level. Withdraw ALL provincial taxes and surcharges (so there can be no federal calculations that end in anything but $0.00). Now increase the charges that the companies pay to the Alberta government (but change the name and structure so that it is provincial only...the Alberta Thanks-A-Lot charge) to make up for, say, 100% of what they're currently paying. Result: O&G companies pay the same to the province, pay WAY less to the feds, and Albertans end up with substantially more in the provincial coffers (pay it out however you like). Screw any government entity that isn't Albertan. But then...that's probably just my leftist leanings.

Well August, how exactly do we set a "valued" price on non-renewables? Who sets the number? You? The provinces (they already do)? Some idiots in Ottawa that are overstepping their bounds? What's fair? What's right? And how can you choose one unrelated statement over another unrelated statement? Is this Alberta royalty rate thing really bothering you that much? Forget about it. It's only the business of Albertans anyway. Consider the money that gets sent to the ROC because of it a gift.

Too many Canadians think because a federal government has a surplus, that it is competent government. The loss in royalty rates is peanuts in comparison to The Great Equalization Theft Scheme. Albertans would already have their inheritance for generations looked after if we weren't supporting the rest of Canada (Ontario excepted). Stelmach and his boys have stated the loss in royalties is from 1.4 to 2.0 billion per year. Hey Geoff, what were those equalization welfare numbers from the last couple years?

Actually Geoff, I pay the deregulated rate as set by the AEUB. Keep in mind that the "approved profit margin" the power companies get to collect is after all expenses, including wages, marketing costs, bonuses, and donuts in the coffee room. So, no, it wasn't subsidy. It was power companies having to survive like every other company in the world. If they hedged their bets and were wrong, they simply apply for an increase in charge. It is the only operation I am aware of that is legislated not to lose money. It's physically impossible. Of course, if I had a few billion dollars I would probably do the same thing. Fair's fair.

My God! Kwebek doesn't want to separate! It only wants to threaten to separate so they can blackmail a federal government for anything and everything they want. The more ridiculous the demand, the more the fed's bend the Canadian taxpayer over. You just gotta know the idiots in Kwebek that keep threatening separation are laughing their asses off and making bets on how outrageous their demands can get and still be conceded to. They wouldn't know what to do if Canada actually said "Alright already, go." OMG! Who would pay the bills? Who would kiss their ass? Who would pay for their daycare programs and latte's? Who would pay for their french language signs and laws to be printed? Good God, get out.

Alberta needs to take some notes from Kwebek's playbook. I live in Alberta, and we're kind of unique. I'm from the Alberta oilpatch and we're kind of unique. Oh, and I live near the Nisku industrial park, and we're kind of unique there, too. So I want to be known as a Nation within a Nation within a Nation. That's one more "nation" than Kwebek, so we win and we get to separate first. Pfft! The Republic of Alberta should be setting it's own immigration policies, collecting it' own federal and provincial taxes, opting out of the transfer payment theft scheme, and canceling all, yes all, indian land claims and payments. That would be a good start. p.s. - I want all my EI and CPP money back. A certified check (not cheque) will do nicely. Thanks.

queenie, have you EVER made a post that didn't include the word "Westminster"? My mistake. I just looked at the one before this...how about two in a row? I hate Kwebek as much as anyone else, but you gotta admit they're the only province with balls.

To quote Higgly 5. This is going to happen because the Canadian public, who have shown in repeated polls that they favour the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana by a wide majority (over 65% on average) is complacent on the issue Oh come on!!!! What did you really expect? Open warfare? I can see it now...2007...The Battle of Dorito. So you're actually suprised that a bunch of pot-heads were complacent on something? You want activism from people who are lying on the couch playing PS3 and drinking lots of water?

I've never come across any policy to kill the CBC in the Conservative playbooks. Love to see it, but then the central Canadian pro-everyone else crowd would "make them pay" at the polls. Steve is too scared of his own shadow to do what's right.

So if following the oil money /= rig pig, exactly which workers do qualify for that moniker? Only if they get their hands covered in hydrocarbons? So there's no medical proof, but there's freaky cancers? That is what you said, correct? As for slave labour in China, at least there can be objective proof of negative effects. No so with the rest of your argument. What about rice? Does the multi-billion dollar O&G industry in Alberta have any effect on the price of rice in China? (If you don't get it, don't worry about it.) Raping of the Earth???? What exactly do you do at those pubs on Whyte Ave?

Come on, we can still allow Calgary to participate. We just need a small wall around the city and signs saying "Just Say No to Flames" posted around exits.

I daresay that we (Albertans) have a better relationship with the only member of the international community that matters...the States...than the rest of Canada. We wouldn't need a military (although we would no doubt maintain one anyway...we can afford it) because the US would gladly protect us to protect their oil supply. Loss of Federal institutions? Name one that we need from the ROC. Seperation would be the best thing for Alberta, bar none.

As much as I would like to see it, I don't believe it will ever happen. The ROC losing it's O&G piggybank would constitute political suicide. IMO any changes to the system of transfer payments would amount to nothing more than name changes. You know, kinda like Ralph Klein's reduction of "taxes" but increase of "user fees".

My concern with deregulation (and I doubt it's JUST me) ends with cost. When my power bill tripled, I learned the "deregulation bad" mantra. I could care less about the politics of it, just the outrageous cost to keep the lights on.

Un-huh. Would you like some Kool-Aid? It's cherry!

There is far too much for the ROC to lose, not Alberta. We could do just fine without the hanger's-on coming along for the free ride. But that is another thread now, isn't it?

So, do you roll your own or buy it pre-rolled? What is your hang-up with the Monarchy and Alberta? The grand total of the Queen's influence in Alberta is the renaming of Highway #2 to Queen Elizabeth II (QEII). As for why we haven't seperated (yet), that is another story.

So by your definition; sobri...sobrik...sobriquet...nickname (big words not good for rig pig!), all the doctors, lawyers, engineers and waitresses that followed the oil money north are rig pigs huh? Impressive. I guess the oil patch has more people in it than I thought. Freaky cancers. Exactly what part of oil and gas exploration causes cancer? Cite, please. So nobody's denying that Alberta O&G powers the country (no pun intended), but it's fine for some know-it-all, anti-O&G, self appointed, almost research scientists to say that O&G is causing adverse environmental and health effects. Wow, you must be smart. Billions and billions of dollars made every year, and no posted research on how drilling a well or digging the oilsands is killing people. Maybe you should publish your findings (I hear the New England Journal of Medicine is always looking for cutting edge stories.)

For the last time this century, there ARE NO RIG PIGS IN FORT MACMURRAY!!! The men and women everyone sees going to and coming from Ft Mac are heavy equipment operators, carpenters, electricians, etc, etc. During any given winter, you might get 10-15 rigs working north of Conklin. I lived in Ft Mac before the big oil boom up there, and let me tell you, there WAS NO QUALITY OF LIFE until Syncrude and Suncor really got rolling. Ft Chip? The village was almost in the stone age before Nexen and CNRL moved in. The O&G business created a quality of life up north. Same goes for Norman Wells and Inuvik. And let's not forget, Alberta employs more Maritimers than the Maritimes. You're welcome! Alberta O&G is the absolute engine of Canada. Want stats? Ask Geoff.

Posit...or should I say Tsi?...your bs ranting makes you look the fool. I say "Bring 'em to Alberta". Their little blockade bullshit would last about five seconds, and then they would find out what "redneck" means. Ever notice that indians in Alberta never attempt such utter bs? It's because they know that the taxpaying citizens of this province would never put up with it. We will, however, put up with them sucking on the public tit for cash and not getting jobs. Whatever. But try and screw with our day-to-day lives (like train service) and they'll find out just how far they can push it. Not far. Not far at all. Are you kidding? An indian with a JOB?

As it should be. On second thought...only 99% should be cut...there's one cute chick on the channel.

Harper is a big L liberal now. He lies. He breaks his promises. He screws the West. You know...he's the PM. Norman, vote for whomever you would like. It will change nothing, because Canada cannot work as it is. The politicians see this and know this and that is why they will do nothing to truly change this almost-country. Chretien was a loser. Martin was a loser. Harper is a loser. The next PM, although he/she may start out great, will be a loser. "As the Stomach Turns"

Not at all. However, since the State has determined that I must pay for it then I am entitled to the service for which I have paid. It would suit me better to be allowed to keep my money and make my own determination as to whether or not I wish to pay to have my children educated and if so, by which establishment. It reminds me very much of negative billing practices by cable tv companies. At least in that instance, I get something for my money. Arbitrary in scope, but entrenched in legislation in practice. The State has the ability to decree what it will, but unless it is legislated, it is only a suggestion.

...and that is wrong unless the acts took place on school property (and by extension school trips, etc). The only act that should be subject to scrutiny is whether or not the student is below the age of consent or there is proof of "I'll give you a good mark if you sleep with me". If the student is of legal age and there is no provable coersion, let it be. I have. The reality is that my wife and I do not have the luxury of being able to home school, and since the state has the legal right to take my money for education, I am compelled to make use of the service. Although I am an officer in the company I work for, and therefore a high-level authority figure, I have absolutely no power of enforcement when I am not in a work environment. Teachers are no different and should learn to accept it.