Jerry J. Fortin

Ole Fig just doesn't understand the reality that the taxpaying citizens of Alberta contribute more than any other taxpaying citizen in Canada. On a per capita basis our citizens carry the burden for 6 provinces and the taxpaying citizens of Ontario carry the burden for 2 provinces. The simple truth is that equalization is a tax that is paid by some citizens and not by others. Not exactly fair when considered that way is it?

Although I applaude the intent, I'm not sure the arguement holds water. In short, I think we are not bolted but......

I must agree with this statement. I think it is imperative that all citizens be allowed the opportunity to speak on this matter. I think that the apathetic citizenry is the key. Any movement that can acquire the converted members of this largest demographic is able to achieve whatever it is that they want. Such is my goal.

Allthough voted no to the question, by all means go ahead and have the freaking vote. Only then please respect the decision of the majority. You can kiss the rights of minorities goodbye through this means. I think that would be a tragic loss myself, but the right wing and religious folk seem determined, well then so be it. In my view only a fool would seek to involve themselves in the sexual interests of the free citizens of this nation. Its none of the governments business, and not a matter of public concern. This entire debate in Parliment is a waste of public expense. A citizen should have the right to act in any manner they chosse to provided that those actions do not conflict with the well being of other citizens.

I would favour a system that compelled corporate compensation to be delivered in the same manner to all employees of the company. Legislation that compelled corporations to provide share purchase options to all employees would go a long way to reducing the common abuse of the compensation system.

I chose economy and taxes, because both have direct impact on the disposable family income. In my view the best thing that can be done to improve the human condition is to formulate a means to provide opportunities for employment and reduce the amount of taxation on the individual. While all of the other options were tempting, I view them as pie in the sky. I just don't see politicians placing busines against the environment, not do I see them spending more money on improving healthcare. While I am sure there would be billions spent I highly doubt that it would do any good or accomplish much at all on those ventures.

Yes we can leave, but should we have to? I want to, but that is just me. Many Albertans are proud Canadians and must be convinced to leave. This will be no small task. Fortunately the feds and our own provincial government make it abundantly clear that our current system has various flaws which can be viewed as detrimental to the interests of citizens. Our new Premier is already under fire for some decidely foolish deals cooked up with the oil barons that ravish our lands. These plans were not his but in true political fashion will be honoured as done deals. Steady Eddie is not likely to offer any new direction for citizens.

In order to achieve peace the waring parties must stop the violence. This will not happen in the middle east, not now and not ever. So why do you concern yourselves with this conflict since it cannot be resolved? In order to solve this conflict one side must give up, it is not a matter of winning because the conflict itself is unending, it is a matter of surrender. Since neither side is willing to surrender, and since the only victory is absolute the outcome is perpetual violence. Its none of our business, we can't solve the problem, and to participate inflicts harm on another human being. So why do we do it? Why do we involve ourselves in their dispute when we cannot resolve it but only make it worse?

Neither party is "clean". Having a government agency clear you of repsonibilty does little to convince me of your innocence. Remember the Airbus issue? This stuff goes on with any group of politicians in a partisan environment, unfortunately I believe it is expected. This nation is failing. It is doing so because it is trying to be all things to all people. Utterly lacking in vision and determined to retain power, knowing no limits to its authority with no fixed election dates and no term limits is an open invitiation to belly up to the trough. There is no means of removing corrupt politicians like a form of recall legislation and therefore there is no means of creating accountability. I now hope it fails and that some more just form of democratic authority will rise from the ashes. Citizens deserve justive and democracy. They deserve a say in how their representatives act on their behalf. These things are lacking in this nation and because of it the spread of the democratic disease of apathy is crippling our nation. For those of you who can see this I say take care in how you form political opinions, and for those that cannot see this I say let this nation rest in peace.

A tax is a tax. The money is taken away from the tax payer and given to the government. It is a net transfer of wealth. Once those funds are in government hands it goes into general revenues and is spent however they please. A carbon tax will hurt my province of Alberta. For that reason I oppose it. But since Dion is not in favour of it, I will wait and see how he proceeds. Harper is not in favour of it either, so I will wait and see how it plays out. I don't expect to see it happen, but if it does there will be a lot of unhappy Albertans. The chip on our shoulder is watching our tax dollars pay for provincial services outside of Alberta through equalization. That little program costs the citizens of Alberta billions of dollars every year, with no return on the investment. This is a tax on our citizen that provides no benefit to them. Taxation should yield some benefit to the citizen in my belief.

Perhaps, but on the other hand why wait for the hammer to fall before moving your thumb out of the way. Is that brave or stupid political behavior? Honest Ed is just figuring out that he is the boss, but by Christmas he will have figured out that Albertans are not simply head strong but they outright reject any attempt by the feds to mess with our economy. My dollar goes with Ed playing the Ottawa card before the election writ is dropped.

I think it is high time that Canadians recognize that Quebec has produced far more able politicians than anybody else in this country. The reason for that is simply that their cultural origins put far more emotion into politics than ours did, consequently they are better at playing upon peoples emotions. Emotional politics are not exactly inclusive but they are very powerful. Lets see; Trudeau, Turner, Mulroney, Chretien and Martin all came from Quebec. Hmmmm.......

The U.N. is not a place to publicly mock leaders of other countries. Chavez is a tyrant by definition. You fail to mention that certain countries have limitations concerning their ability to be helped to substantially improve their economies and that their governments have failed by allowing their countries populations to exceed manageability by their respective governments. The U.S. nor anyone else cannot work miracles for these countries that have allowed themselves to be engulfed by unmanageable poverty. By whose definition, yours? Wasn't this guy elected by a majority of citizens in his own country? So if he was elected, then don't we just have to deal with it? Just because the Americans don't like the guy isn't a real great reason to come down on him, unless you both support Bush and are an American. Having said that I have recently read somethings about the guy, after the "it still smells like sulphur" remark. It seems that he is well supported by the poor in his own land. The middle class are split in their opinion, and the rich hate the guy. But in a democracy a simply majority rules. So unless you intend to argue against the free will of people being expressed in political terms then we kind of have to respect their opinions on their own government.

The Liberals don't need an election at this point, but they do need election issues to come to the forefront of the political tide. What they need is to be on the same side of the tide as the public. In other words, they need to either find an issue on which to place Harper on the wrong side of public opinion or create one through spin or scandal. I don't expect anything immediate like in terms of a federal election because the Liberals need an issue which they can exploit.

Does Dion support this carbon tax craziness?

Live and let live. Who will assume responsibility for their neighbor? To each their own, and trust in one another. Respect and forgiveness, acceptance and tolerance, what is the moral barometer in this regard? Who is to say and who is to judge? Who wants religion to enter into politics in this nation?

I would not want to particpate in petty partisan politics. I favour the independent candidate over one with partisan loyalty. Partisanship is the bane of democratic existance. Power should not be the issue within a democracy, representation should be. The majority of constituents need to be heard, people of all political stripes. Partisan politics limit the options for issues in debates because the party declares policies which must be adhered to.

Go Ted Go!!! Ted will hang a right and take a different path. Knowing where the first one went leaves me to believe that another choice would yield a different result. We need change, that is the long and the short of it. A vote for Dinning is the status quo approach that lead us to where we find ourselves today, with all of the infrastructure problems and funding shortfalls this province has, and the same kind of thinking will simply not provide functional resolution to the issues. The royalty debate is absolutely key to our future. Morton intends to follow the trail that Quebec carved out which provides the means for clawing back some of the fed taxation levied on our citizens to keep their hard earned dollars in this province. That is a good move that in conjuction with revenue stream reformation and ATB Financial utility can facility fundemental economic change in Alberta. We need to greatly expand our secondary industry. Our productive capacity is severely restricted without the leverage created in secondary industry. Morton is intent upon a path of nation building endeavours and Albertans will forfeit the benefits of that effort if they fail to support him in his bid for leadership of the party and the position of Premier. Simply put, a strong Liberal leader will ensure that Albertans shy away from the Liberals and at the same time seek a stronger voice against them. Considering that all the hopefuls for the number one job of the Liberals are in fact strong nationalists, this may push Albertans toward Morton and away from Dinning.

Okay, call me a heartless bastard but I don't think that prisoners deserve a red cent in wages. If it were up to me I would remove every damned luxury item from the jails. No swimming pools or movie rooms, no exercise centres or libraries. As far as work goes, I would have every damned one of them work all right, hard enough to earn the 70K a year it costs to keep them behind bars, but they wouldn't see a thin dime of it until that was covered first. We need to give our heads a shake here. These people are supposed to be PAYING a debt to society, not earning money for their own benefit. Violent offenders should NEVER get out of jail unless their convictions are overturned. Look at the number of repeat offenders and then tell me how our soft punishment system of justice is working. Jail should be a place that they would fear to go, and not risk the consequences of breaking the laws of society. On another note, I think that having guards inside jails is a little foolish given that guns would be pointing outside towards law abiding citizens, the guards should be on the outside pointing their guns inside trying to keep them in! Oh well, I guess the bleeding heart society will find my notions off the hook. So be it, but I will still place more value on law abiding citizens than criminals and still believe that criminals need to be punished for their crimes. Making it easier on them at my expense will never fly with me.

What ever happens the PC party is being split between those who want change and those who want the status quo. Meanwhile the dinosaur party hasn't figured out yet that there is far more non-Tories in this province thean ther is Tories. The way the math works out Albertans want change. So supporting Dinning isn't really bright and that is why I think Dinning will win, because the average Tory isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. They haven't figured it out yet, nor do I think that they will.

Religious leaders involved in politics, now there is a receipe for intersesting consequences. Considering there is no head of the Islamic faith, I wonder what the head of the Catholic Church thinks he can accomplish. Conversion maybe?????

Consequences, perfect description JBG!

Morton is a liberal republican and he is an American transplant. The PC party works for his idealism. He would be a good guy for Alberta to have around in cases of confrontation with Ottawa as well as in friendship in Washington. His only real failing is his approach to public healthcare, and his desire to supplement with optional private care.

Once defeated by the British the French were made promises of being able to keep their language, their religion and their culture. Sounds pretty distinct to me. Sounds like a unique society within a greater nation. This is what was offered and that is what was accepted. No assimilation, no integration, merely a method of peaceful resolve without either the British or the French having to give up their homes and their lives in Canada. That once original and elegant solution is now haunting the new combined nation. Oh well, so much for peaceful solutions. Canada is the heart and soul of a multicultural concept because of the efforts of those two groups of people. The legacy we have been living with should have been respected and embraced , unfortunately there have been problems from day one.

I think you are right! He does say each province to be split into four parts, that ought to be interesting. I can't wait to see his response.