Alberta Politics

[David A]

J.C. That's a lot of money. Has the UPC screwed up that badly or do they want to use the deficit as ammunition to change the transfer payment agreement relationship with Ottawa and the other provinces? Migration into Alberta didn't create those kind of deficit forecasts. Not everybody that moved to Alberta is unemployed and using the health care and education system pro bono as the UPC would have the electorate believe.

Perhaps, but the big flaw in the equalization argument is it is not money collected by the Alberta government sent to Ottawa. The Federal government sets its tax rates which are the same in Alberta as in every other Province. Likewise Alberta sets its own provincial tax rates independently like every other province does and all the money Alberta collects from that stays in Alberta. So equalization does not contribute to the provincial deficit.

As for other Federal transfers, I really doubt a higher deficit of a poor rich province with more room to adjust revenue will be much of an argument for the Feds to increase them. Although a number of other provinces with less room to increase their revenues have higher deficits now too, so that may be more persuasive.

 

[MacLac]

Get a load of the Mayor to the South....."Speaking to reporters on Friday, Farkas said Calgarians recognize the city is the economic engine of the province."
Nothing like a humble politician....lol...

Calgary mayor voices concern over Alberta budget’s changes to local property taxes

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is criticizing the province over property tax changes announced in the 2026 budget.

www.ctvnews.ca

Speaking of Mayors, it was refreshing to see our current Mayor NOT bellyache and complain about the budget....first time in my lifetime where the Mayor didn't stand on his/her soapbox and bitch about the AB budget....Buddy Farklas to the South didn't get the memo...he/she is really earning his/her mayoral paycheck...lol

 

[David A]

Get a load of the Mayor to the South....."Speaking to reporters on Friday, Farkas said Calgarians recognize the city is the economic engine of the province."
Nothing like a humble politician....lol...

Calgary mayor voices concern over Alberta budget’s changes to local property taxes

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is criticizing the province over property tax changes announced in the 2026 budget.

www.ctvnews.ca

Speaking of Mayors, it was refreshing to see our current Mayor NOT bellyache and complain about the budget....first time in my lifetime where the Mayor didn't stand on his/her soapbox and bitch about the AB budget....Buddy Farklas to the South didn't get the memo...he/she is really earning his/her mayoral paycheck...lol

They may "recognize" this, but that doesn't mean it is necessarily so. I feel there is some confusion that just because it is where a number of the head offices are all the economic activity related to them happens there.

Smith wasn't very pro Farkas during the civic election, even though he considers himself conservative, so he may still be taking it personally.

Our mayor seems to have moved on from her civic election meddling, perhaps because Smith's implicit support actually hindered his opponent. Maybe he should send her a thank you card.

 

[trevorhayden]

 

[Jaws]

Happy to say I’ve never heard of a single one of those businesses.

 

[Out of Towner]

Yet $74M to Cardston's hospital???? WTF???!!! Ever been to Cardston? They do NOT need a new hospital.....yet we are dying in the waiting rooms......

Btw, never heard of Cardston getting a new hospital - EVER! Where did this come from? Is one her minions representing that shit hole?

I guess YEG'ers can always drive to Red Deer to visit their upcoming palatial new hospital.....

For some reason, this is bugging me the most......$279M to twin the highway to Rocky Fucking Mountain House?
View attachment 717739

Regarding Rocky Fucking Mountain House. I had reason to visit Sundre in the early 2010's and the intersection from Hiway 22 into Sundre was perfectly fresh blacktop. Top of the line hi-way. No expense spared on it. I drive down main street a block or two and a couple buildings to the west of main, there was Ty Lund's constituency office. Great big sign saying so. Ty Lund was the MLA for Rimby - Rocky Fucking Mountain House - Sundre and held various cabinet positions in the PC government including being the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. According to Wiki, Lund was born in Rocky Fucking Mountain House.

 

[The_Cat]

New Alberta Movie: Brokebuck Mountain!

 

[Airboy]

Highway 11 west of Rocky could use some love but there is not enough traffic to justify twinning. Hell 28 to 63 has needed twinning for 30 years now. And Finish highway 16 for god sake.

As I have said earlier Cardston is a dying community. But very separatist, It is the Tabernacle location and has a very strong American influence.

 

[ADob]

Maybe they can carve out their own little piece of Alberta and separate and leave us all the hell alone!
That tabernacle is something, too! Went there a couple years ago and it was definitely more than I expected.

 

[Gronk!]

I've only passed thru Cardston on my way to Waterton National Park. All I know about Cardston is they've banned alcohol for the past century.

 

[Airboy]

When

I've only passed thru Cardston on my way to Waterton National Park. All I know about Cardston is they've banned alcohol for the past century.

I was working on the Cartridge Museum , After a long day I mused about needing a beer after the day was done. The waitress looked at me with discuss and said I had to go to the reserve for that. And the Mech Contractor had a bottle removed from his hotel room by cleaning staff. But that was years ago. Cousin in the RCMP that was stationed near there after Ft Vermillion said the impaired driving and spousal abuse was higher than in the LaCrete area. But the area is nice around there they have that.

 

[Gronk!]

Not sure where he came up with his number but he used the $66 figure twice - yesterday in his statements after budget and this morning on Ryan Jespersen.

The price of oil shot up to around $75 since the recent conflict in Iran.

 

[David A]

I believe the $66 figure was used for 2026-27 budget projections, so prices are above that right now. Although we are still in the 25-26 fiscal year, so we will see how it goes.

There has been a lot of volatility, this last year I believe it was between around $55 to $80 with more of the year on the lower side.

 

[BASE]

I believe the $66 figure was used for 2026-27 budget projections, so prices are above that right now. Although we are still in the 25-26 fiscal year, so we will see how it goes.

There has been a lot of volatility, this last year I believe it was between around $55 to $80 with more of the year on the lower side.

2026-27 is $60.50 USD as far as I have been able to tell and what is on the budget economic outlook website. Haven't been able to find reference to $66 anywhere.

 

[David A]

I had seen it in media coverage, it seems close to the 2027-28 price so perhaps that was where they got it from.