Asking all English Canadians

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher

They were a "have not" province before the "Liberals" took over...

They're now approaching being a "have" province again..

Wrong,

These stats prove the BC "Liberals" have screwed BC:

Equalisation payments received by BC

93-94 0
94-95 0
95-96 0
96-97 0
97-98 0
98-99 0
99-00 125
00-01 0
01-02 195
02-03 0
03-04 332
04-05 824

From: http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/eqpe.html

The Liberals were elected in May 2001 and since then they have driven BC into the red with massive deficits and turned BC into a "have-not" province.

[Asher]

I stand corrected.

British Columbia is FUBAR.

If only they could look at Alberta for inspiration.

The secret to their success lies offshore...untapped.

[Asher]

I'm having some fun with StatCan stats (latest): http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/indi02k.htm

Unemployment:
BC: 7.1% (65.3% participation)
Quebec: 8.3% (66.1% participation)
Alberta: 4.8% (73.3% participation)

Average Weekly Earnings:
BC: $694.24
Quebec: $657.13
Alberta: $734.04

[Tingkai]

No wonder Albertans like Bush.

[Asher]

http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/econ15.htm

GDP Growth:
BC: $120.9B (1999) -> $142.4B (2003) [17.8% from 1999-2003]
Quebec: $210.8B (1999) -> $254.2B (2003) [20.5% from 1999-2003]
Alberta: $117B (1999) -> $170.6B (2003) [45.8% from 1999-2003]

GDP per Capita (2003)
BC: $28,812
Quebec: $27,947
Alberta: $53,290

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Tingkai
I wouldn't use the word "leeching". A leech is a parasite that feeds off another body and gives nothing in return. Quebec contributes to Canada as a whole and to the equalisation payments so to call them a leech is simply wrong.

I wouldn't say leech either, but do you think Quebec pays more into Canada pp than Ontario or Alberta?

This is what will be drawn out pp in transfers for 2004-05.

Quebec 13.2Bln, $1757 pp
Ontario 16.4Bln, $1322 pp
Alberta 4.2Bln, $1321 pp

http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/mtpe.html

btw, you'll notice that all provinces get it. The idea behind it is to equalise the potential tax base. Alberta and Ontario have a larger pp tax base, ergo, we get fewer dollars back. PEI has very little tax base (compartively) therefore they draw over $2K pp (along with a few others).

Edit: I should really differentiate equalization ($10Bln/year) from transfers ($51Bln/year).

The point stands though, does Quebec pay in enough to make up the difference pp in what it takes out?

[notyoueither]

btw, I'm a little bit impressed that Saskatchewan is about to join the haves. They've been CCF or NDP for a good portion of the time that Alberta has been Social Credit or Tory. We went balls out on oil (and have more of it, most likely) they have not encouraged exploration (but they have encouraged other mineral extraction).

Half of Saskatchewan's native sons and daughters moved to Alberta (so the story goes) but still they plod along and are managing to get things done.

Nova Scotia is next.

[Agathon]

It's whining when you're the leach, it's complaining when you're the main contributer to equalization payments that pays the bills of virtually every other province.

We've had this argument several times before, and each time you seem to forget about how democracy works. Alberta contributes more to equalization payments than other provinces largely because it sits on a pile of oil.

Alberta paying more is just like richer Canadian citizens paying more tax than poor people. Hence, your entire position is basically yet another childish tax whine.

[notyoueither]

Not really. he does have a point that for Quebec to complain about the fiscal arrangements is a little bit absurd, when they gain while others pay.

[Lul Thyme]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
BTW, I didn't know that you were Quebecois Spec.

Now that means the list is:

Oncle Boris
Spec
Richelieu
Nostromo
And KH, who is AFAIK Anglo-Quebecois, right?

Im also from Quebec, live near Gatineau close to Richelieu I think,...

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Sad, but true.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
BTW, I didn't know that you were Quebecois Spec.

Now that means the list is:

Oncle Boris
Spec
Richelieu
Nostromo
And KH, who is AFAIK Anglo-Quebecois, right?

Half and half. I grew up anglo though.

[Sprayber]

Why are some Canadians so intolerant with other people's views about Canada. In Canadian Bacon, all the Canadians were nice and so helpful.

[KrazyHorse]

If other people would do their homework before expressing their opinions then their input would be welcome.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Asher
Quebec is teh sux

Yeah, and this graph is about raw numbers.

I've already discussed it with Imran, and Quebec is actually just fine when you look it with GDP growth per capita.