News

PC Leadership Hopeful Starke Proposes Plan To Defeat NDP

Published

8 years ago

4 minute read

By Sheldon Spackman

One of four men seeking to lead Alberta’s PC Party to victory in the next provincial election, is proposing an alternative approach to defeating the NDP in 2019. Vermillion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke says he has a better option to defeat the current government in two years, rather than merging the PC’s and Wildrose as fellow leadership candidate Jason Kenney has suggested.

Starke says through a release that “Albertans tell me that they want a real change in the Alberta government but do not necessarily like the risky 5-point Unity power grab.” Adding, “Today, I am introducing a proposal that would see Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose working together on a Common Sense Plan; Alberta’s conservative parties collaborating to eliminate the risk of vote splitting in the next election. This Common Sense Plan could include:

Both parties would fight the 2019 election from positions of strength with a common goal – defeating the NDP.
Both parties would continue to work as separate but collaborating entities – two parties, two leaders, two caucuses.
Giving Albertans an option to ensure that there will be no splitting of conservative votes in the next election.”

Starke says Kenney’s plan to dissolve the PC’s and Wildrose and create one new right-wing party instead, is too risky. He says with the next provincial election only two years away, it’s frankly not enough time to start a new party from scratch and be ready for an election. He says his Common Sense Plan preserves two political parties that want to remain. Adding however, that the two parties still need to talk about it, which hasn’t happened yet. As far as vote splitting is concerned, Starke says “There are mechanisms that could be employed to make sure that doesn’t happen”.

Starke goes on to say “It has become apparent that the Progressive Conservative Leadership race is no longer just about selecting the best leader for the Party, but it has changed into who can defeat the NDP in 2019. I believe strongly that Alberta needs to be governed from the centre-right, and that the NDP cannot see another term in office.”

Starke also says “One of the hallmarks of leadership is to listen, and to respond. I have been listening to Albertans who are desperate to see the end of the NDP government. But I have also listened to Progressive Conservative and Wildrose members who do not want to see their parties destroyed. Many have told me they support “unity” because they believe it is the only way to defeat the NDP.”

Starke adds, “I have stated unequivocally throughout the campaign that the 5-point Unity proposal will not work as it depends on the rushed destruction of two existing political parties and other complicated, high risk political maneuvers. It will result in a second NDP term in office. Working together in collaboration rather than competition is the most effective way to defeat the NDP while avoiding the major upheaval of both parties proposed by Jason Kenney.” The two other PC Leadership hopefuls include Byron Nelson and Stephen Khan.

A Leadership Town Hall is taking place in Grande Prairie on Friday, January 27th, with a Leadership Debate in Medicine Hat February 1st. The Leadership Convention and Vote happens in Calgary March 17th, 2017.

Related Topics:Alberta PC Leadership Race Alberta PC Party

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Broken ‘equalization’ program bad for all provinces

Published on November 21, 2024

Todayville

From the Fraser Institute

By Alex Whalen and Tegan Hill

Back in the summer at a meeting in Halifax, several provincial premiers discussed a lawsuit meant to force the federal government to make changes to Canada’s equalization program. The suit—filed by Newfoundland and Labrador and backed by British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta—effectively argues that the current formula isn’t fair. But while the question of “fairness” can be subjective, its clear the equalization program is broken.

In theory, the program equalizes the ability of provinces to deliver reasonably comparable services at a reasonably comparable level of taxation. Any province’s ability to pay is based on its “fiscal capacity”—that is, its ability to raise revenue.

This year, equalization payments will total a projected $25.3 billion with all provinces except B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan to receive some money. Whether due to higher incomes, higher employment or other factors, these three provinces have a greater ability to collect government revenue so they will not receive equalization.

However, contrary to the intent of the program, as recently as 2021, equalization program costs increased despite a decline in the fiscal capacity of oil-producing provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In other words, the fiscal capacity gap among provinces was shrinking, yet recipient provinces still received a larger equalization payment.

Why? Because a “fixed-growth rule,” introduced by the Harper government in 2009, ensures that payments grow roughly in line with the economy—even if the gap between richer and poorer provinces shrinks. The result? Total equalization payments (before adjusting for inflation) increased by 19 per cent between 2015/16 and 2020/21 despite the gap in fiscal capacities between provinces shrinking during this time.

Moreover, the structure of the equalization program is also causing problems, even for recipient provinces, because it generates strong disincentives to natural resource development and the resulting economic growth because the program “claws back” equalization dollars when provinces raise revenue from natural resource development. Despite some changes to reduce this problem, one study estimated that a recipient province wishing to increase its natural resource revenues by a modest 10 per cent could face up to a 97 per cent claw back in equalization payments.

Put simply, provinces that generally do not receive equalization such as Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan have been punished for developing their resources, whereas recipient provinces such as Quebec and in the Maritimes have been rewarded for not developing theirs.

Finally, the current program design also encourages recipient provinces to maintain high personal and business income tax rates. While higher tax rates can reduce the incentive to work, invest and be productive, they also raise the national standard average tax rate, which is used in the equalization allocation formula. Therefore, provinces are incentivized to maintain high and economically damaging tax rates to maximize equalization payments.

Unless premiers push for reforms that will improve economic incentives and contain program costs, all provinces—recipient and non-recipient—will suffer the consequences.

Authors:

Alex Whalen and Tegan Hill

National

Liberals, NDP admit closed-door meetings took place in attempt to delay Canada’s next election

Published on November 12, 2024

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Pushing back the date would preserve the pensions of some of the MPs who could be voted out of office in October 2025.

Aides to the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that MPs from the Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) did indeed hold closed-door “briefings” to rewrite Canada’s elections laws so that they could push back the date of the next election.

The closed-door talks between the NDP and Liberals confirmed the aides included a revision that would guarantee some of its 28 MPs, including three of Trudeau’s cabinet members, would get a pension.

Allen Sutherland, who serves as the assistant cabinet secretary, testified before the House of Commons affairs committee that the changes to the Elections Act were discussed in the meetings.

“We attended a meeting where the substance of that proposal was discussed,” he said, adding that his “understanding is the briefing was primarily oral.”

According to Sutherland, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, it was only NDP and Liberal MPs who attended the secret meetings regarding changes to Canada’s Elections Act via Bill C-65, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act before the bill was introduced in March.

As reported by LifeSiteNews before, the Liberals were hoping to delay the 2025 federal election by a few days in what many see as a stunt to secure pensions for MPs who are projected to lose their seats. Approximately 80 MPs would qualify for pensions should they sit as MPs until at least October 27, 2025, which is the newly proposed election date. The election date is currently set for October 20, 2025.

Sutherland noted when asked by Conservative MP Luc Berthold that he recalled little from the meetings, but he did confirm he attended “two meetings of that kind.”

“Didn’t you find it unusual that a discussion about amending the Elections Act included only two political parties and excluded the others?” Berthold asked.

Sutherland responded, “It’s important to understand what my role was in those meetings which was simply to provide background information.”

“My role was to provide information,” replied Sutherland, who added he could not provide the exact dates of the meetings.

MPs must serve at least six years to qualify for a pension that pays $77,900 a year. Should an election be called today, many MPs would fall short of reaching the six years, hence Bill C-65 was introduced by the Liberals and NDP.

The Liberals have claimed that pushing back the next election date is not over pensions but due to “trying to observe religious holidays,” as noted by Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen.

“Conservatives voted against this bill,” Berthold said, as they are “confident of winning re-election. We don’t need this change.”

Trudeau’s popularity is at a all-time low, but he has refused to step down as PM, call an early election, or even step aside as Liberal Party leader.

As for the amendments to elections laws, they come after months of polling in favour of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre.

A recent poll found that 70 percent of Canadians believe the country is “broken” as Trudeau focuses on less critical issues. Similarly, in January, most Canadians reported that they are worse off financially since Trudeau took office.

Additionally, a January poll showed that 46 percent of Canadians expressed a desire for the federal election to take place sooner rather than the latest mandated date in the fall of 2025.