Harper to "Fix" fiscal imbalance - or you know, not
According to the CBC Prime Minister Harper is all set to keep one of his major election promises and be an all-around good guy:
Oh wait.
Radio Canada reported Monday that Ottawa will increase transfer payments to the provinces in the area of education, post-secondary education and infrastructure.
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As well, Quebec would get an extra $1.5 billion in equalization payments.
I don't live in Quebec.
Make that, Harper is about to deliver a screw job to Saskatchewan
From the story:
What was that promise again? The one the Conservatives made in their platform?
It suggested that half of the revenues of the provinces drawn from natural resources be included in the calculation of equalization payments.
You know, in writing?
Oh yeah:
Work to achieve with the provinces permanent changes to the equalization formula which would ensure that non-renewable natural resource revenue is removed from the equalization formula to encourage economic growth. We will ensure that no province is adversely affected from changes to the equalization formula.
Lies.
All lies.
click on the button
Update:
As Greg over at political staples points out:
Well, at least one of the top Conservative Cabinet Ministers is on it. I mean, Ms. Ambrose did such a good job in Environment that she got this.... promotion.
So Alberta and Saskatchewan (otherwise known as the core base) will be opposed. Danny Williams will be hoping mad and Dalton "election year" McGuinty will pile on. Out of the frying pan into....another frying pan Ms. Ambrose - this will be very interesting.
right?
right?
Uperdate:
Buckdog has a nasty-looking picture of Harper up and also seems to have a copy of the conservative platform. I smell the NDP campaign in Saskatchewan being formed right here on the web!
And here is what one of the blogging tories has to say:
Typical. If it helps Quebec, screw the west!
This will probably cause some trouble with Sasketchewan ,Alberta and Newfoundland. I think it is worth that risk.
Upper-UpperDate:
Paul Wells is in on the act!
Mr. Wells, if the Premier's office doesn't get back to you you just have to look here
As another election promise breathes its last gasps
Hey, someone in Lorne Calvert's office: remind me the names of those Saskatchewan Conservative MPs who used to bug the Liberals about resource revenues and equalization? Let's make their lives hell, shan't we...
