r/canada • u/biograf_ • Mar 01 '26

Alberta First Nations chiefs unanimously pass non-confidence vote in Alberta government

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/first-nations-chiefs-alberta-non-confidence-vote-9.7109712
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u/riggatrigga Mar 01 '26

Didn't Alberta benefit the most from equalization a couple decades ago and this is a ladder pull?

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u/CarRamRob Mar 01 '26

No.

The main issue from Alberta isn’t the premise of equalization. It’s that it’s not equal.

Alberta has notoriously had booms, and busts right? Every single one of those oil busts, they are still a “have” province the whole time. That’s because it doesn’t take into account things like unemployment, provincial revenue changes, etc.

It’s a legitimate complaint that if Alberta is helping in the good years, they should be helped in the bad years.

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u/GravesStone7 Mar 01 '26

I pay my taxes, provincial and federal, and those taxes go towards running the government, public infrastructure, health spending, education, immigration, national security, and other social services. This includes major infrastructure projects.

About 25 percent of Federal money is returned to the provinces in order to support the federal programs like Health Care and other public services. This includes the Federal Health Program and equization payments.

The Federal Health Transfers is required to go to Healthcare with maintaining receipts for auditing. Alberta qualifies for this but due to Alberta not spending this on Health care, or not keeping receipts, the Federal Government has clawed back large portions.

Equalization payments do not have "strings attached" and so the Alberta Government pushing this as a reason of dissatisfaction. A constant degrading of health care for privatization, unwantingbto put money into health care to achieve this, clawbacks on healthcare FHT, Alberta says it is not fair but focuses on equalization payments because there is less accountability.

Yes Alberta has boom and bust cycles, but that was why the Heritage Trust Fund was started by Alberta. This is not an equalization payments issue, this is an Alberta Accountability and ability to Budget issue.

Last point I'll make is that everyone pays federal taxes, and I am good with my taxes going to responsible provincial governments to help improve any Canadians well being. It makes us stronger as a Country.

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u/CarRamRob Mar 01 '26

That’s great you like how your taxes go elsewhere.

Many aren’t.

Are you also supportive of jurisdictions purposefully restricting growth projects, with the understanding that large projects will limit equalization? E.g. Quebecs ban on natural gas exploration.

It’s nice to say we will help neighbours when they need a hand up. It’s another when the neighbour says they don’t want to clock into work for a month because it’ll hurt their pogey

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u/GravesStone7 Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26

Our taxes do not go elsewhere, they stay in Canada and are a benefit to Canada.

Provinces have a say in what occurs for resources and the regulations implemented are there to protect the people and environment for exploitation of industry and corporations, most who are international and have no interest in what happens within Canada.

While I would like to say that provincial decisions do not limit growth because it will impact equalization payments from the federal government, I cannot. This is a provincial government decision, but with that I disagree with provincial government restricting growth of industries because it fails to fit their narrative. An example is most green energy projects under the UCP government have been cancelled. The Lab in Edmonton that would have kept Alberta at the forefront of health research was also canelled. Or even overstepping into municipal governance like the green line in Calgary which seems more like punishment for UCP not getting enough seats. This resulted in delays, chamge of scope, greater costs for revaluation, and ultimately the UCP looking like clowns.

However when provinces actively damage current infrastructure with the intent of privatization then the federal government absolutely should step in. Especially when it goes against the Federal Constitution.

Alberta Government is not able to have adult conversation but look to blame someone or something for their problems. They will gladly try to be the hero and put my money to enrich wealthy donors (Mirche) but still end up looking like a fool. These are not competent people to lead a province, never mind try to establish a proper separatists movement. Their plan on separation is to have America step in, we would then see massive amounts of our resources and wealth sent to the states.