Jerry J. Fortin

Where did those people come from? How did they get there? What country owned the land that they petitioned to have made into a province? 11% were of German origin http://www.ualberta.ca/~german/PAA/German-...esinAlberta.htm http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/eduweb/t...9/#_Toc36373746 Some of them were, but not necessarily the majority. You need to read a little more carefully, the point was clear for any but the logically impaired. We pay out more than we receive in programs and services on a per capita basis. Would you like to subsidize your neighbors car payment because you make more than he does? Would legislation that compels you to do so be fair in your opinion? Get a grip Fig! I keep providing answers, your lack of understanding can hardly be declared my fault. I don't think that I can be truely described as ignoring the responses that you have made. I understand the equalization program very well actually, but perhaps you don't. Just for your information Albertans lost a hell of a lot of services and funding from the feds. Granted that other provinces did as well, but in our province we also made a lot of cuts to provincially funded programs as well just to balance our budget. We tightened our belts in hard times and made sacrfices, maybe the provincial government did where you live as well, since I have no idea where you are it would be a guess. At any rate we did what we had to do, for the greater good of our citizens. Now that we have covered our provincial debt, our designated levy is even higher than it was because the formula the feds uses calculates the debt load of the provinces into the payment schedules. So even after we have paid the price that to my knowledge no other province has, we are now being levied an extra measure in reward for the success of the endeavour. Go figure a punishment for a reward! Now after having said that, my problem with your position is that you are ignoring the concerns of Albertans. There was no help from Ottawa during the NEP was there? Since when did Ottawa ever help Alberta? Has Ottawa ever helped Alberta? Think again, are you suggesting that you pay more for wheat in Eastern Canada than we do in Western Canada. If you are in fact doing that I would like to see the proof of that one! While we are at it can you explain why if the whole marketing board concept was so beneficial to western farmers that the federal government actually put farmers in jail for selling their grain in the US for a better price than the Canada Wheat Board was offering to pay them? The fact that you are talking out of your hat doesn't surprise me anymore. I never said there was an eastern plot! The fact that you are making that assertion in the first place indicates that you would lie just to make a point. You further that to another degree by declaring that I believe that I am somehow harmed in some manner based upon your lies. Don't try to put words in my mouth Figleaf, I will spit them back at you anyway, you must know at least that by now. You are a living example of why myself and other Albertans find dealing with liars distasteful. But don't let common sense and decency from stop you from continuing to spread lies and misquote us poor misguided westerners. To the likes of your kind we have already been condemned as you will. We neither need or want your help anyway, all that we wanted was to be treated equally as partners in confederation. For the last one hundred years we have tried to be fair and honest with Canada even while the reverse cannot be said. Thanks Figleaf for hidding behind an assumed name, being too afraid to say who you are. I feel pity for you and you weak knee political theories. You deserve Canada and it deserves you, for all your efforts you have merely made more Albertans look for alternatives to your Canada. What are you too afraid to show behind that figleaf anyway?

Hey Riverwind, Figleaf is right! They did campaign against meddling with income trusts. As I recall they were calling the Liberals bad names for considering it prior to Harpers' arrival at 24 Sussex Drive.

We can all be considered ignorant if we do not seek the truth and persevere in our democratic participation.

My guess was wrong then! Be different, use an amployee of the month award and give them a vacation on the house, to be taken during the annual vacation of course. You could have an employee of the day award and buy them lunch. Make yourself known as a great boss to work for. Use the tax deductible status you have and utilize it to provide benefit to the employee.

Harper is making a mistake by not showing up. He is responsible for his governments policy and its rejection of an international obligation under the treaty.

Obama, Clinton and McCain will not be the chosen candidates for their parties for the presidential election. The Republicans will choose a southerner to run. The Democrats will choose a westerner. Obama may get the vice-presidential nod. Jeb Bush??? Yikes, run and hide! Actually I think he has done a good job in Florida.

Excellent point, but I think you made a mistake with the "if" component, I think you should have said when.

Are you talking to me? That last bit reminds me of a funny poster I saw years ago. "Go to work every day. Millions on welfare depend on you." Yep, I was talking to you. Actually it was a compliment, I am a wage slave and happen to admire those with the guts to go their own way and become self employed.

Obama would be great for the US domestic policy, McCain would be best for their foreign policy. IF Obama beats Hilary, then I think the Dems chances are lowered in a general election. I don't think they will actually admit it but they are more willing to support a woman than a man of colour. John McCain would be bad for the world but good for the US. The man is not one to be triffled with, I think that North Korea would find themselves in large trouble with him at the helm. As far as the latest rumours of middle eastern nuclear power proliferation goes, I think McCain would likely draw a line in the sand with that one. Allies or not, I don't see him supporting Saudi or anybody else with that little endeavour.

My guess is that you are female. Either single or wanting to be single, strong willed, upwardly mobile and uncomprimising in your beliefs. You also appear to be inteligent and hard working. Not that I think that you would care but, three cheers for you, girl or not. Nations need hard working ambitious people, and you seem to fit that bill.

I think my language to be more important to me than it is to others. Just as I believe other think their language is more important to them than it is to me. I am unilingual, living my entire life in English speaking Canada. I think that if it were put to a vote English would be the language of choice of a majority of Canadians. I am a white Anglo-Saxon, born in Canada. The main theme of my life is the pursuit of knowledge relative to social justice and its lack of foundation within our western culture. I believe that this and other western styled nations were created within the cntext of a Christian foundation, but have long since evolved beyond secular governance. I no longer participate in partisan support and seek independent candidates for political office in the belief that they will be more accountable to the constituents who they are supposed to represent. I desire a direct democracy, where each citizen is responsible for contributing to society through their democratic efforts. It is my belief that the Parlimentary system is fundementally flawed and beyond redemption.

Hey Argus what do you think of the new nuclear power plant design that eats dead rods for breakfast? I am in favour of coal myself, because it is plentiful and cheap. As a matter of fact I plan on converting to coal for residential heat out here in the wilds of Alberta.

And they are. But it won't be enough. An energy power grid is the equivalent of a national highway or a national railway. Private companies don't have the resources to do this type of national program. Their focus is north-south links which is good regionally but is not a how a nation is built. The North American Power Grid has existed for some time now. I simply would not support the use of federal funds to benefit Ontario. There is no net benefit to me here in Alberta through the use of those funds to subsidize a provincial problem. Let them eat cake ! While there are freezing in the dark !

Its just another reason for me to distrust politicians, I consider it an affront to the memory of those who gave their lives for this nation.

Let Ontario choose its own path. Lets not have the feds do it for them. They can build power plants themselves.

I think it is obvious that there are way too many ignorant Canadians for this sort of thing to go forward JBG. Many don't seem to realize that our futures are joined together at the hip, onlk.y time will prove this but it is my belief that we will eventually see the light and seek a more refined and beneficial relationship.

I am not in favour of a new round of minimum wage increases. I think those jobs affected are not what I would classify as mainstream employment but instead sort of a fringe form of employment. If the NDP want to bark up a tree in the name of social justice then perhaps their arguement should have been to have employers cover off EI,CPP and healthcare deductions for employees. That would put a few hundred dollars a month into their pockets without a tax increase and the costs would be offset with correseponding deductions from the employer tax contribution to the feds. It would mean a reduction in revenue stream for the feds but oh well.

I don't have a link, just watched a story on this mornings special on CNN .........

A new law in the United States makes health care insurance a matter for the consideration of the IRS. Citizens without healthcare insurance will be subject to added taxation from the Internal Revenue Service. Is there any other better reason for retaining public healthcare, than avoiding added taxation?

1. Canada DID create Alberta. It's a historical fact. 2. I've never claimed to know what's best for Alberta. Odd that you'd choose to characterize Alberta as a child. Personally I think of it as a province with reciprocal obligations to its fellow provinces and its federation. Reciprocal obligations that you seem to want to dodge. SO WHAT? That was to help western farmers and it did help western farmers. The very idea that you can use the wheat board as a complaint is absolutely ridiculous. It ensured that farmers got a higher price for their grain. A higher price that other consumers in Canada had to pay. You aren't very good at twisting the facts Fig! The ability to spin things in your direction eludes you. When you cherry pick quotes you need to be a little more careful. In this complete section where you took my words out of context, I did not characterize Alberta as a child I characterized Canada and yourself as benevolent parents. Come on Fig, my statement wasn't remotely close to any means of attack politics. Yet even so you try to spin it that way. Not very astute of you, but if that is how you want to attempt to debate the issue you have just opened the door. Actually Fig it was the citizens of Alberta, 185,000 of them that petitioned Canada to become a province, so in reality we created this province through our own efforts. Canada held us in territorial status which provided a more limited form of democracy and government. It was better for us to become a province then to remain as part of the Northwest Territories, so through our efforts we achieved provincial status. With all due respect, using "So What" as a response does little to debate a point, but it does prove that you either do not or can not understand the problem. While you may not care if Alberta spends more per capita on confederation and receives less per capita from confederation, we do. It is our concern, and by responding with "so what" you highlight your sentiments regarding that which is of concern to us. That is how the nation of Canada and yourself attempt to address issues placed before you by Alberta citizens. With respect to the wheat board, I would suggest that you study up on the facts. It does not apply to all Canadian farmers, just western Canadian ones. It serves as a restriction as well as it does an advantage but in order to know that you will have to research and understand the entire issue. Whether you choose to listen to Albertans or not is up to you of course, but it would be nice if you just stick to the facts and not embelish them with your lack of understanding.

Large site to digest quickly, I will get back to you fella!!

The reason that I think Alberta is not welcome is quite simple actually. My definition of welcome is one of friendship and respect, comfort and concern. Canada does not treat Alberta with friendship and respect, it treats us as you treat us. Both the nation and yourself believe that we are somehow beholding to you, it is as if you believe we are in your debt. You both claim that you created us, and you know what is best for us as some form of benevolent parent. News flash! The child has grown up and has decided to make its own way in this world. With all due respect Fig ole boy, you can take you misbegoten politically challenged concept of reciprocal obligations and reconsider them to the best of your limited ability. In the most simple terms Albertans receive less per capita from the federal government than any other province, check your data and rethink that approach. To your point about Canada creating Alberta, rethink that too will you. Canada ignored Alberta and the prairies when it reached out for British Columbia. Canada created preferential treatment for BC in the Crow rate knowing full well the impact on our citizens. Canada created and legislated the Canadian Wheat Board into a monopoly applicable only west of Ontario. The list is long and historically significant. My previous position while being none of your business was simply that I was once a proud Canadian. Now I am ashamed of that handle. I believe that Canada has become a nanny state of sorts and little more than a vassal of the United States. From the gun registry to the adscam affair federal politics now revolt me. In addition people like you are ensuring that my position is becoming even more entrenched with respect to the grievances I have against your nation of Canada.

And Luxembourg has such a quality military, right? Per capita spending is not a accurate measure of a military's quality. Can you give me some concrete examples of how military power improves the global standing of a middle power like Canada? We're a century removed from Teddy Roosevet's utterance and the world has changed a fair bit since then. What's more, using concerns over prestige to justify military spenduing can lead to all kinds of ridiculous purchases (I'm thinking of Imperial Germany's massive pre WWI naval build up, motivated by the desire to compete with Britain . Of course when war finally came, they couldn't bear to risk their precious fleet in action, so it sat in harbour for most of the conflict.) I don't particularily care. In fact I find this Canadian trait of agonizing over what the cool kids are saying to be most unseemly. I'd be happy if we were Sweden. That's idealogical/political problem that can't be solved or addressed my military means alone. That I will agree with. Again: we're 12th world wide in military spending, ahead of Spain, Australia and Israel, ferchrissakes. That's a lot of dosh. Okay: why? Does Canada face any sinificant threats to its territory? Is Canada without allies and thus recquires a large military to defend itself? Are we maintaining an overseas empire? No? No? No? So please: back your statement up. http://www.nationmaster.com/red/graph/mil_...pita&nofb=1 I have often said that we need to decide what to do with our military. I have also said that that particular decision would have great impact on the force composition of the military. Any further explaination required?

It seems to me that some people believe that Alberta owes Canada for its creation and depends on it for its continued existence. I am not comfortable with that debt. I think that perhaps it is finally time to work for the freedom of Albertans. It has been suggested that there is no political "movement" to support seperatism in Alberta, perhaps that is true. I think I will endeavour to change that. For some reason I get the impression that those of us in Alberta are not welcome in Canada, and we are not held in very high regard. That is fine with me, I will tend to my own affairs and no longer consider the needs and wants of other locations or regions. Its time for Albertans to focus on the needs and wants of our own citizens. To that end I think I will begin a letter to my MLA requesting that Alberta collect ALL taxation within its juridiction in a like manner to that of Quebec. Further I will suggest that Alberta create its own pension plan, use the Heritage Trust Fund as seed money and cease all citizens payments to the CPP and transfer ongoing payments to the new Alberta Pension Plan. This may be followed by a request to the federal government to transfer all funds held by Alberta citizens in CPP to the new Alberta Pension Plan. I will request the Alberta opt out of the EI plan and create and Alberta Employment Plan, all current contributions by Alberta citizens should be redirected into the new Alberta Employment Plan. I will also request that my MLA formulate legislation that all federal holdings in Alberta be assesed for updated land value for purposes of municipal taxation. It would be logical to self deduct healthcare and education allowances per capita for Alberta citizens as well as the administratives costs associated with tax collection from the total received in withholding taxes from Alberta citizens and corporations resident within this province. That is the start of an effort to look after our own citizens without adverse impact to the federal government. Many people in this forum can feel secure in the knowledge that in my opinion Alberta should mind its own business. Of course we should continue to pay our fair share, and we will.

Don't get divorced to find out Wilbur. Your ex can now take you back to court years after the divorce if your income rises, and get back pay on your increased income to boot. In fact it is household income that courts look at when determining payments. The is a schedule carved in stone that will be enforced upon a divorced parenty making payments for child support based on income, but there doesn't appear to be an upper end to it. The same applys to spousal support. At least in Alberta that is the way it works.