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We really need to keep 2019 in mind during 2017 election.

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2 minute read

2017 is an election year. We will be electing a new city council and school boards. There has been queries about what the issues will be and who will run. There has been concerns about what effect 2019 will have if any on this election.
2019 starts off with the Canada Games on Feb 15-March 3. Could be the climax of a political career or the starting point for a change in a political career.
The provincial election is on May 31 and it is quite possible that a city councillor or a school board trustee may take the next step on the political ladder and win a seat in the legislature. A high profile during the Canada Games wouldn’t hurt. If that happens then a by-election would be called to fill the vacancy on council or the boards.
June 2019, our MP for Red Deer-Mountainview decides that at 66 years of age and multiple gold plated pensions, he will not run for re-election in October 21, 2019 federal election.
This time our Mayor runs for the Conservative nomination and steps down as mayor. Another by-election is called to fill the Mayor’s position. A current councillor wins the by-election and becomes mayor, then another by-election is called to fill a council vacancy.
Let us just hope that the council vacancy is not filled by a school board trustee, because that would mean another by-election.
2017 is an election year. The issues could be taxes, environment, economics, unemployment, crime, safety, services and who will run and who will stay. We should keep 2019 in mind.

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John Stossel

Government Gambling Hypocrisy: Bad Odds and No Competition

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From StosselTV

Many politicians across America condemn gambling. They crack down on slot machines and want sports betting banned. Yet, there’s one gambling operation they never try to ban: their own!

The politicians’ hypocrisy is disgusting. They should leave us alone. How we spend our money should be up to us!

After 40+ years of reporting, I now understand the importance of limited government and personal freedom

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Libertarian journalist John Stossel created Stossel TV to explain liberty and free markets to young people.

Prior to Stossel TV he hosted a show on Fox Business and co-anchored ABC’s primetime newsmagazine show, 20/20. Stossel’s economic programs have been adapted into teaching kits by a non-profit organization, “Stossel in the Classroom.” High school teachers in American public schools now use the videos to help educate their students on economics and economic freedom. They are seen by more than 12 million students every year.

Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards and has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. Other honors include the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the George Foster Peabody Award.

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To get our new weekly video from Stossel TV, sign up here: https://www.johnstossel.com/#subscribe

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Alberta

Alberta’s embrace of activity-based funding is great news for patients

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From the Montreal Economic Institute

Alberta’s move to fund acute care services through activity-based funding follows best practices internationally, points out an MEI researcher following an announcement made by Premier Danielle Smith earlier today.

“For too long, the way hospitals were funded in Alberta incentivized treating fewer patients, contributing to our long wait times,” explains Krystle Wittevrongel, director of research at the MEI. “International experience has shown that, with the proper funding models in place, health systems become more efficient to the benefit of patients.”

Currently, Alberta’s hospitals are financed under a system called “global budgeting.” This involves allocating a pre-set amount of funding to pay for a specific number of services based on previous years’ budgets.

Under the government’s newly proposed funding system, hospitals receive a fixed payment for each treatment delivered.

An Economic Note published by the MEI last year showed that Quebec’s gradual adoption of activity-based funding led to higher productivity and lower costs in the province’s health system.

Notably, the province observed that the per-procedure cost of MRIs fell by four per cent as the number of procedures performed increased by 22 per cent.

In the radiology and oncology sector, it observed productivity increases of 26 per cent while procedure costs decreased by seven per cent.

“Being able to perform more surgeries, at lower costs, and within shorter timelines is exactly what Alberta’s patients need, and Premier Smith understands that,” continued Mrs. Wittevrongel. “Today’s announcement is a good first step, and we look forward to seeing a successful roll-out once appropriate funding levels per procedure are set.”

The governments expects to roll-out this new funding model for select procedures starting in 2026.

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The MEI is an independent public policy think tank with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary. Through its publications, media appearances, and advisory services to policymakers, the MEI stimulates public policy debate and reforms based on sound economics and entrepreneurship.

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