PC win in Calgary-Greenway by-election shows “the NDP is back to being a fringe party

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I guess you must have been asleep during the 41 years of PC rule.

There were ups and downs and when the NDP is shown the door we will be digging out for awhile. There will be a PC majority in the next election because the NDP like the Federal Liberals have not a clue what to do except try and spend their way out of recession. Which never works.

 

[captain morgan]

I guess you must have been asleep during the 41 years of PC rule.

I see that you're from Redmonton... I shoulda known

 

[PoliticalNick]

I guess you must have been asleep during the 41 years of PC rule.

No, we were all busy working during that time. Something a lot less people do with Rachel (stupid c*nt) Notley in power.

 

[Bar Sinister]

No, we were all busy working during that time. Something a lot less people do with Rachel (stupid c*nt) Notley in power.

And with the conservative premier of Saskatchewan in power.

I see that you're from Redmonton... I shoulda known

And you are wrong as usual and completely unable to defend your position.

 

[captain morgan]

And you are wrong as usual and completely unable to defend your position.

Yeah sure bud... As per the abbreviation of your name, BS hits the nail square on the head

 

[Nick Danger]

No, we were all busy working during that time. Something a lot less people do with Rachel (stupid c*nt) Notley in power.

So what, in your opinion, should the NDP government in Alberta be doing exactly to turn things around?

And didn't you say something earlier about the NDP "killing jobs" ?? How are they doing that?

From where I sit the whole mess in Alberta goes right back to the crash in the oil price. It would have happened to any government in power.

 

[captain morgan]

And didn't you say something earlier about the NDP "killing jobs" ?? How are they doing that?

1. Increased corp and personal taxes during (read: in the middle) of the downturn in oil prices.
2. Threatening to increase royalty rates, thereby driving away investment and having the big companies 'revisit ' their planned capital expenditures plans for AB.
3. Increasing minimum wages in a recessionary market.

 

[Nick Danger]

1. Increased corp and personal taxes during (read: in the middle) of the downturn in oil prices.
2. Threatening to increase royalty rates, thereby driving away investment and having the big companies 'revisit ' their planned capital expenditures plans for AB.
3. Increasing minimum wages in a recessionary market.

And how has that affected the economy? A Financial Post article a couple of weeks back said oilsands producers are sitting on record high cash reserves. The corporate tax hike certainly hasn't done them any harm. In fact it has just given them another reason to cry "poor me" and hammer the trades into further wage reductions.

Are you saying that other governments would not have taken the same course as far as personal taxes go? Isn't that very strategy what lost the election for the conservatives? The very thought that the same people who reaped the rewards of the boom times should help by tightening their belts a bit during the lean times?

Everybody is quick to lay this whole mess at the feet of the NDP government when in fact any government would have the same mess to deal with.

Just for the record here, in the provincial election last May in the Calgary-Greenway riding the results came down like this: PCs 43%, NDP 36%, WRP 21%, and the Liberals did not run a candidate. In last week's by-election it went like this: PCs 28%, NDP 20%, WRP 24% and the Libs 24%. If anybody got their asses handed to them it would be both the PCs and the NDP, or you could just say that it was a pretty close race and that the whole riding isn't quite sure what they want.

 

[lone wolf]

When you're looking for what you want to see a one percent difference is a landslide

 

[captain morgan]

And how has that affected the economy? A Financial Post article a couple of weeks back said oilsands producers are sitting on record high cash reserves. The corporate tax hike certainly hasn't done them any harm. In fact it has just given them another reason to cry "poor me" and hammer the trades into further wage reductions.

You really are wondering how those actions affected the economy?... Really?

Does the reality that billions (yes, billions with a B) of investment is deferred or cancelled outright because the increase in taxes and royalties make AB more expensive to do business in as opposed to Texas, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, etc, etc, etc. somehow elude you?

This is exactly what happened when Notley made the raft of poor decisions... It's all about the economics, no different than why you may decide to take a job across the street because you'll make 10% or 20% more.

By the by, just because these companies have lots of cash on hand does not mean that they are prepared to dump it down Notley's bottomless tax pit.

Are you saying that other governments would not have taken the same course as far as personal taxes go? Isn't that very strategy what lost the election for the conservatives? The very thought that the same people who reaped the rewards of the boom times should help by tightening their belts a bit during the lean times?

I'm not speculating on some theoretical government position or what someone 'would have done'... This is about Notley and what she did do.

Everybody is quick to lay this whole mess at the feet of the NDP government when in fact any government would have the same mess to deal with.

... And exactly who should be blamed for raising the tax base across the board or threatening to hike royalties?.... Angela Merkl?

Just for the record here, in the provincial election last May in the Calgary-Greenway riding the results came down like this: PCs 43%, NDP 36%, WRP 21%, and the Liberals did not run a candidate. In last week's by-election it went like this: PCs 28%, NDP 20%, WRP 24% and the Libs 24%. If anybody got their asses handed to them it would be both the PCs and the NDP, or you could just say that it was a pretty close race and that the whole riding isn't quite sure what they want.

Whatevs.

 

[taxslave]

You really are wondering how those actions affected the economy?... Really?

Does the reality that billions (yes, billions with a B) of investment is deferred or cancelled outright because the increase in taxes and royalties make AB more expensive to do business in as opposed to Texas, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, etc, etc, etc. somehow elude you?

This is exactly what happened when Notley made the raft of poor decisions... It's all about the economics, no different than why you may decide to take a job across the street because you'll make 10% or 20% more.

By the by, just because these companies have lots of cash on hand does not mean that they are prepared to dump it down Notley's bottomless tax pit.



I'm not speculating on some theoretical government position or what someone 'would have done'... This is about Notley and what she did do.



... And exactly who should be blamed for raising the tax base across the board or threatening to hike royalties?.... Angela Merkl?



Whatevs.

Cappy you is dealing with a believer. No reality needed.

 

[lone wolf]

As usual I see a lot of whining about taxes but no solutions being offered. Province has to pay its bills somehow - or you become Ontario

 

[gerryh]

You really are wondering how those actions affected the economy?... Really?

Does the reality that billions (yes, billions with a B) of investment is deferred or cancelled outright because the increase in taxes and royalties make AB more expensive to do business in as opposed to Texas, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, etc, etc, etc. somehow elude you?

The increase in taxes was exactly the same amount that Prentice said he would be increasing. There was NO increase in royalties. Both of these FACTS were very clear to the people AND businesses of Alberta.

Notely has screwed up, and I agree the NDP is not the right government for Alberta in the long run. However, how about we stick to the facts as to what the NDP is and is not responsible for.

 

[taxslave]

As usual I see a lot of whining about taxes but no solutions being offered. Province has to pay its bills somehow - or you become Ontario

Cutting spending to match revenues is always an option. You know like common folk do. Sometimes even a sale of assets is required.

 

[lone wolf]

What would they who have never had to do without know about what common folk do?

 

[Nick Danger]

If overall tax revenue is down then it makes perfect sense to raise rates to help offset the loss in revenue. I'm not convinced that the NDP have created an inhospitable investment climate either, share prices and trading volumes have tracked the peaks and valleys in oil prices pretty closely, an indication that forces other than government policy are the driving force here. Taking a look at share performance over the first quarter of this year is a good example, as oil prices have rallied so have share prices and investment volumes. I know a lot of people would like to believe that the NDP are to blame for the foundering economy in Alberta, but the numbers do not bear that out. It's oil prices. Oil prices and Alberta's dependance on the oil & gas sector. The crash was well under way before the election last May, in fact the NDP got into office because folks wanted to blame the PC's. Now the PC's are gone and the NDP is the popular target. It's not that it's their fault, it isn't. It's just that it human nature to want to blame someone within striking distance.

 

[personal touch]

There were ups and downs and when the NDP is shown the door we will be digging out for awhile. There will be a PC majority in the next election because the NDP like the Federal Liberals have not a clue what to do except try and spend their way out of recession. Which never works.

i am not sure about a PC majority,but what i do sense the Province will be divided,rural vs cities,with PC and wildrose in rural ridings,with NDP in city ridings,maybe a few Liberal ridings,who knows?PC receives what it deserves.

 

[captain morgan]

As usual I see a lot of whining about taxes but no solutions being offered. Province has to pay its bills somehow - or you become Ontario

As per usual, there are those that live life by the rule; if it moves ~ tax it; if it twitches again ~ regulate it more

The increase in taxes was exactly the same amount that Prentice said he would be increasing. There was NO increase in royalties. Both of these FACTS were very clear to the people AND businesses of Alberta.

Notely has screwed up, and I agree the NDP is not the right government for Alberta in the long run. However, how about we stick to the facts as to what the NDP is and is not responsible for.

To my recollection, Prentice did not vow to increase both corp and personal tax rates and, only at the high end.

Further, Notley promised to review royalty rates and for AB to get it's fair share.... Code for increased royalties.

Stelmach tried that and the E&P sector moved East to Sask.... Either Notley was to blind to understand that industry would react in that same manner as they did when Eddie tried it, or she is too stupid.

In the end, the effect was/is all that matters

If overall tax revenue is down then it makes perfect sense to raise rates to help offset the loss in revenue. I'm not convinced that the NDP have created an inhospitable investment climate either, share prices and trading volumes have tracked the peaks and valleys in oil prices pretty closely, an indication that forces other than government policy are the driving force here. Taking a look at share performance over the first quarter of this year is a good example, as oil prices have rallied so have share prices and investment volumes. I know a lot of people would like to believe that the NDP are to blame for the foundering economy in Alberta, but the numbers do not bear that out. It's oil prices. Oil prices and Alberta's dependance on the oil & gas sector. The crash was well under way before the election last May, in fact the NDP got into office because folks wanted to blame the PC's. Now the PC's are gone and the NDP is the popular target. It's not that it's their fault, it isn't. It's just that it human nature to want to blame someone within striking distance.

You just don't get it.

Corps are (in essence) taxed on profits and as the commodity prices are in the crapper, it results in the actual taxes collected being lower despite the higher tax rate. That said, the tangible effect it does have is that the money moves to lower cost jurisdictions in anticipation of a commodity price recovery.

Notley screwed the pooch on this one as her logic and medium/long term strategies absolutely suck, so yep, the NDP policies are indeed to blame for a big chunk of the problems in the province as it relates to overall industry health in AB and employment being lower than what it may have been

 

[gerryh]

To my recollection, Prentice did not vow to increase both corp and personal tax rates and, only at the high end.

Further, Notley promised to review royalty rates and for AB to get it's fair share.... Code for increased royalties.

The tax increases were EXACLTLY what Prentice said he was going to do.

The Royalties did not change.

These are the 2 things you said was all Notley. Increased Royalties and increased taxes.

You are sounding like the wild rose spreading misinformation about the NDP provincially and the Libs Federally. Just twisting things enough to spread some fear.

 

[petros]

As per usual, there are those that live life by the rule; if it moves ~ tax it; if it twitches again ~ regulate it more



To my recollection, Prentice did not vow to increase both corp and personal tax rates and, only at the high end.

Further, Notley promised to review royalty rates and for AB to get it's fair share.... Code for increased royalties.

Stelmach tried that and the E&P sector moved East to Sask.... Either Notley was to blind to understand that industry would react in that same manner as they did when Eddie tried it, or she is too stupid.

In the end, the effect was/is all that matters



You just don't get it.

Corps are (in essence) taxed on profits and as the commodity prices are in the crapper, it results in the actual taxes collected being lower despite the higher tax rate. That said, the tangible effect it does have is that the money moves to lower cost jurisdictions in anticipation of a commodity price recovery.

Notley screwed the pooch on this one as her logic and medium/long term strategies absolutely suck, so yep, the NDP policies are indeed to blame for a big chunk of the problems in the province as it relates to overall industry health in AB and employment being lower than what it may have been

Jeepers, I spent my day trying to explain to lazy, wasteful millennilas why costing 10% losses into a ground up project is "normal" but it looks like yours was tougher.