Dion and the Liberals , the Atlantic Accord and Equalization

[Canuck E Stan]

Where's the Liberal Stand on the Accord?

Oh here it is!

Dion and the Accord

* Stéphane Dion and the Liberals have always denied that the fiscal imbalance even exists

* Dion voted AGAINST the implementation of the Atlantic Accord on November 15, 2004

* The federal government says it no longer wants to talk about Nova Scotia's so-called "campaign for fairness". Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion met with Premier John Hamm yesterday, and told reporters the campaign is over. Dion says it's only fair that as provinces take in more money on their own, they receive less in equalization transfers. (BN, May 15, 2002)

* Premier John Hamm's Campaign for Fairness on offshore royalties was flawed from the start, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion said Tuesday. "I suggested to stop arguing about the past," Dion said after meeting with Hamm for more than an hour. "It's a mistake to link (the offshore) to equalization payments, because then other provinces want to be part of it." (The Daily News (Truro), May 15, 2002)

* Federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion says Ottawa has had enough of Nova Scotia's campaign for fairness. The province wants to keep equalization payments, even as it takes in new revenues from offshore development. Dion told reporters yesterday that wouldn't be fair to other provinces. (BN, May 15, 2002)

* Federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion says he's fed up arguing about Premier John Hamm's ``campaign for fairness,'' (Halifax Daily News, May 15, 2002)

* Dion said he doesn't like the name of Hamm's campaign, or its insistence that Nova Scotia got a raw deal in the past. (Halifax Daily News, May 15, 2002)

* Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, who stated the federal Liberals see no need to amend the equalization formula to accommodate the Atlantic premiers' wish to keep all their oil and gas booty (Report Magazine, August 20, 2001, quoting Globe and Mail op-ed by Dion)

* “Look, we have received two requests from some premiers. Premier Hamm has requested to not take into account his offshore revenue in the equalization payment formula. We have explained why it would be unfair for the provinces.” (CBC Radio, The House, August 4, 2001)

* Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion said last week that ``goes against the whole idea of equalization'' and could cause resentment among the ``have'' provinces, such as Alberta, that pay into the fund. (Edmonton Journal, April 18, 2001)

* Federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion argued recently that it would be unfair to allow provinces such as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to hang on to both equalization payments and their oil and gas revenues if that gives them fiscal capacities surpassing those of British Columbia or Ontario (Ottawa Citizen, July 19, 2001)

Bitchin' about the Conservatives' stand on the Accord, but trying to fool Saskatchewan,Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, into thinking they would do it differently.

[jdobbin]

Bitchin' about the Conservatives' stand on the Accord, but trying to fool Saskatchewan,Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, into thinking they would do it differently.

The people doing the most bitchin' are Tory premiers.

The Liberals eventually came to support the Accord.

[gc1765]

* Stéphane Dion and the Liberals have always denied that the fiscal imbalance even exists

There is no fiscal imbalance. If there was, the provinces would raise taxes.

[sharkman]

Bitchin' about the Conservatives' stand on the Accord, but trying to fool Saskatchewan,Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, into thinking they would do it differently.

And the premiers in question are only fooling themselves to think they are being ripped off.

[hiti]

Bitchin' about the Conservatives' stand on the Accord, but trying to fool Saskatchewan,Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, into thinking they would do it differently.

They did do it differently. They negotiated and signed the Atlantic Accord which ALL MEMBERS of the House supported and voted for!!

"The prime minister (that would be Steve) himself stated in this House on October 26, 2004, that when it comes to the Atlantic accords, there is 'a moral obligation to keep these promises: no caps, no clawbacks, no limitations, no conditions, no big exceptions in the fine print,"'

[Canuck E Stan]

The people doing the most bitchin' are Tory premiers.

The Liberals eventually came to support the Accord.

The premier's provincial party affiliation isn't relevant.

How will the Liberals deal with Saskatchewan,Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, today's issue?

They sure aren't telling, easier to just bitch about the conservatives.

The question will be raised, and Dion will have to give a straight answer on what he would do in this situation.

I'll put it to you, what would he do? So far he isn't telling.

[geoffrey]

There is no fiscal imbalance. If there was, the provinces would raise taxes.

There is a huge fiscal imbalance. Ottawa collects the cash and hands it out to the provinces. That's an injustice. The provinces should be levying the taxation, not Ottawa. All Ottawa should do is protect the borders.

Most regard the fiscal imbalance to mean the difference in the money Ottawa collects and the services it provides. Nearly everything worth mention is the responsibility of the provinces.

I'd like to see the Canada Health Act challenged as unconstitutional for step one.

[jdobbin]

The premier's provincial party affiliation isn't relevant.

How will the Liberals deal with Saskatchewan,Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, today's issue?

They sure aren't telling, easier to just bitch about the conservatives.

The question will be raised, and Dion will have to give a straight answer on what he would do in this situation.

I'll put it to you, what would he do? So far he isn't telling.

You can put this on Dion but it is Harper who is the driver's seat. Dion eventually came to support the present Atlantic Accord. It is Harper that got himself in trouble with the budget. Dion voted against that budget.

Party affiliation is relevant. Even some ardent Tory supporters are not happy with the PMO's bullying tactics with political allies.

[normanchateau]

* Stéphane Dion and the Liberals have always denied that the fiscal imbalance even exists

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives played into the hands of the separatists and claimed it did exist. Now the rest of Canada is on the hook for 4.8 billion dollars to Quebec, the price the other provinces must pay for the Bloc to prop up the fiscally irresponsible and incompetent Harper government.

[jbg]

There is a huge fiscal imbalance. Ottawa collects the cash and hands it out to the provinces. That's an injustice. The provinces should be levying the taxation, not Ottawa. All Ottawa should do is protect the borders.

I agree in principal, but how would one ensure that Canadians would have similar standards of living and similar services? Devil's advocate question.

[geoffrey]

but how would one ensure that Canadians would have similar standards of living and similar services?

By paying for it themselves. Newfoundland has no motive to fix things as long as Alberta pays their bills. Cut them off and their people will demand change (and services).

Right now Williams can trash his province and enjoy exactly the same standard of living.

It's the worst in welfare.

[Canuck E Stan]

Right now Williams can trash his province and enjoy exactly the same standard of living.

It's the worst in welfare.

All the while his demands from the oil companies are preventing any of them from starting work in getting the Atlantic oil.

As costs escalate in recovering the oil, the less likelyhood they will invest just to battle icebergs and harsh Atlantic waters anytime soon.

Easier and cheaper to go elsewhere.

Danny will stubbornly wait and so will the prosperity for the Newfoundland people.

Maybe the next premier will be wiser.

[NovaScotian]

but how would one ensure that Canadians would have similar standards of living and similar services?

By paying for it themselves. Newfoundland has no motive to fix things as long as Alberta pays their bills. Cut them off and their people will demand change (and services).

Right now Williams can trash his province and enjoy exactly the same standard of living.

It's the worst in welfare.

That is not exactly true. The projected NL equalization payment by 2008/09 is 197million, just 18% of what it was given 8 years ago.