News
Province chipping in for energy efficiency purchases…
This is from the Government of Alberta
More savings for energy-efficient products
Albertans eager to add more energy-efficient products to their homes can get their shopping lists ready, as the latest round of instant savings hits stores on April 5.
Annie McKitrick, MLA, Sherwood Park, Darryl Hill, VP of program delivery, Energy Efficiency Alberta, Barry Novak, general manager, Home Hardware, Minister Phillips and Minister Sohi take a look at some of the products now available for instant savings.
Instant savings of up to $15 per item are available in stores for many easy-to-install, energy-efficient products. Albertans can save on programmable thermostats, low-flow showerheads, smart power bars, LED light fixtures, and the newest addition to the campaign – LED yard lights with motion sensors.
“Our government continues to make it easier and more affordable for Albertans to embrace energy efficiency. Our popular programs are putting money back into households, supporting local jobs and reducing millions of tonnes of emissions – that’s a win for Alberta families, a win for the economy and a win for the environment.”
The Instant Savings campaign is part of the Residential Retail Products Program that is being funded by $26 million from Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan over the next three years, plus $25 million from the federal government’s Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund.
“Through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, we are investing in clean solutions that grow our economy and support a healthy environment – today, and for our kids and grandkids. This funding will help Albertans choose products that save money and energy, reduce carbon pollution, and support local business and jobs across the province.”
The length of the campaign differs from one retailer to the next and an up-to-date store locator can be found at efficiencyalberta.ca/instantsavings.
“Being able to offer instant rebates right at the point of purchase adds a level of ease and convenience our customers really appreciate. We recognize the importance of energy efficiency, and this program is a great way for our customers to save money and energy.”
In 2017, people across the province received over $24 million in instant rebates. Through the Residential Retail Products Program, Albertans bought over 9.5 million energy-efficient products last year, including:
- 6,861 programmable thermostats
- 2,146 washing machines
- 194 refrigerators
- 9.2 million light bulbs
- Other eligible products
“Our previous instant savings campaigns were hugely popular with Albertans. This spring, we’re offering instant savings at 360 retail locations across Alberta. And we’ve added LED yard lights with motion sensors – a great way to reduce energy use and improve home security.”
Quick facts
There are several ways to save through the Residential Retail Products Program, including:
- Instant Savings: On products such as LED lights, programmable thermostats, motion sensors, low-flow showerheads, smart power bars and clotheslines at the till.
- Home Improvement Rebates: Up to $3,500 is available for insulation, up to $1,500 for windows and up to $1,000 for tankless, hot-water heaters. A total of $6,000 in rebates is available for products installed by a home improvement contractor.
- Online Rebates: Up to $100 is available on eligible washing machines, refrigerators and smart thermostats, and $75 for furnaces with variable-speed motor (ECM) fans.
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:
National
Liberals, NDP admit closed-door meetings took place in attempt to delay Canada’s next election
From LifeSiteNews
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.”
Berthold then asked, “You nevertheless suggested amendments to the legislation including a change of dates?”
“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.
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