Equalization File Gives Harper Headache
Major complaints with the existing imbalance comes from a number of provinces with Newfoundland and Saskatchewan presenting the best examples of the current inequity.
Mr. Harper is having a difficult time resolving this file.
Globe and Mail
Government of Nova Scotia
Bud - this is not a question of provincial 'spending' ??? Look at a couple of points. your provinical gov't is responsible for highways and grid roads. Yet Ottawa collects a gasoline tax and has NO resonsibility for Manitoba highways - why is the gas tax going to Harper?
Why is it that when the formula is calculated, Saskatchewan MUST include the money it receives from non renewable resources BUT NEWFOUNDLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA ARE EXEMPT!!
This is not the time to be trying to defend Harper. The Conservatives promised a FIX for Saskatchewan and other provinces and now in typical Tory fashion ooooops... another broken promise!!
Posted by leftdog | 8:12 am, September 28, 2006
Fair ball - but look at my province of Saskatchewan. From 1982 - 1991 the Grant Devine CONSERVATIVE government NEVER balanced one budget in 9 years AND left a debt of $14 Billion dollars. That debt has now been paid down to $7 Billion. BUT Saskatchewan people had to cut back on health care, highways etc to GIVE THAT MONEY BACK TO THE BANKS! (Oh and 16 Conservative MLA's were convicted of FRAUD and Breach of Trust) - yet we do not get the same treatment as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland undrr the formula. The FEDS are over taxing us by Billions - how else did they have a $13 Billion surplus to go to debt.
You may want to cut your provincial government a bit of slack - Ottawa is taking in Billions more than they need - Manitoba is entitled to its share. Don't let provincial partisan politics allow Harper to hurt your province.
Posted by leftdog | 11:30 am, September 28, 2006