"All Canadians should be worried about" Alberta's new finance minister, Joe Ceci

arent all social workers secretly career politicians?

Kenneth said, “watch the new depression unfold in Alberta.”

I was among the first … on election day. It fell on me like a hammer.

NDP = New Depression Party. The NDP wrecking crew is in charge, watch the new depression unfold in Alberta.

I SURVIVED the NDP! Poster for sale, by Albertan who moved to B.C. in 1977 to take advantage of NDP induced doom and gloom in B.C. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_New_Democratic_Party where it is said, "The BC NDP is the provincial arm of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). Unlike other parties in Canada, where provincial and federal politics and parties are strictly separated and members of one are not necessarily members of the other, NDP members are automatically members of both the federal and provincial party. Want to know what Mulchair will do to Canada if he ever becomes Prime Minister? All you have to do is look at what the NDP did in every province including B.C. and now Alberta! God keep us strong and NDP socialist free!

Joe Ceci should study a little history – not ancient history – just back to 1935 & 1944. In 1935 the Social Credit government of William Aberhardt immediately began dealing with the Alberta debt. They knew the bankers could be wicked taskmasters. When the CCF government took power in Saskatchewan in 1944, the bankers in Boston had in mind to wreck the province, by dumping the SK bonds of the existing debt, thereby, lowering the credit rating of the province. So, if the province wanted to borrow money from the bankers, they would have to pay more interest to the bankers (bondholders). Premier Tommy Douglas and Finance Minister Fines went to Boston and offered to buy every bond at the new selling price. The bankers quickly changed their minds! It is difficult to see how the Notley NDP government can not see that debt restricts freedom and growth. To most households, it is common sense!

This just could be another “The sky is falling, the sky is falling…..” scare tactic. From what I’ve read the NDP have approval to borrow up to $6 Billion but in fact, may actually borrow much less, or maybe even none! I believe the previous PC government had approval to borrow much the same amount! Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly no Notley supporter, I didn’t vote for her local candidate, in fact I have e-mailed her FIVE times since she was elected asking for her to review something that is very important to many Albertans, but she, or her office, has not even had the courtesy to acknowledge receiving said e-mails, let alone responded to my concern!! And this is the politician that said she was going to listen to Albertans!!

Four years from now may see another change in Alberta’s Provincial Gov’t, but’ it’s going to take double that amount of time to fix the problems that will be created. And should the NDP become the Federal leaders of Canada, Alberta’s problems may well become a Federal vs Provincial bipartite. This being the case, it will take considerable time before Alberta recovers from the NDP fallout!

Randy, As an Albertan I think it more surprising that Alberta voted in a Tax and Spend government more than the fact that they actually tax and spend. I think even the NDP were surprised they got a majority, along with the rest of Canada. It was a real shocker for everybody and a mistake we will fix in four years.

Why would anyone in Alberta be surprised by these things? If you bring in a tax and spend socialist, why would you be surprised that they are taxing and spending!

This is unbelievable. Does Joe Ceci not realize how much government revenues will decline because of their policies. Thanks to the NDP you will see the debt balloon. How could people not see this? This is criminal.

Canadians tend to forget that it is oil on the wheel that keeps the wheel going around! They will soon learn!

Erin said, “Perhaps it’s just me, but I came to believe everywhere is essentially the same.”

As a young person I remember not noticing the differences between people and places as well. Youth in some cases is probably the way adults should be all the time, but alas, we all get jaded one way or another and start noticing the difference that would be best left alone.

Erin said, " I don’t think it’s fair to make generalized assumptions about how much or how little easterners working in Alberta care about politics,"

Speaking for myself, I did not say they did not care, only that they brought their failed politics with them to Alberta and it is those politics that were probably a major contributing factor to the NDP getting elected in Alberta.

Erin said, "but I think his opinion is closer to the truth than you’re giving him credit for. "

That may be so, but it is his delivery, previous posts and attitude behind what he says coupled with earlier negative comments about Alberta that cause the negative reaction he gets, and indeed is intentionally fostering.

For the sake of providing context to my opinion, I was born in Ontario, where I got most of my education and worked my first jobs, but have been living in Alberta since moving to Edmonton just before starting grade 12 (August 1998). In between, my family moved around a lot, roughly every 3 years. Perhaps it’s just me, but I came to believe everywhere is essentially the same. After awhile in one place, though, it’s almost impossible not to become attached to where you live, and start thinking that it’s “the best of all possible worlds”, to quote Voltaire.

Also, I don’t think it’s fair to make generalized assumptions about how much or how little easterners working in Alberta care about politics, whether they vote or not and for which party, or if they intended to relocate to Alberta on a temporary vs permanent basis. Everybody’s different.

Hey, first of all, Klein wasn’t “kicked out”. He had already publicized his retirement timetable before the March 2006 PC leadership review vote took place, in which he still won 55% support. 55% is more confidence than most national governing parties or prime minister ever receive, even with majority governments. Yet to Klein personally, as well as according to his most vociferous critics — both within and outside the PC party — that level of support was considered to be a “crushing blow”, such that he opted to expedite his departure from from the Alberta legislature.
Secondly, a lot of you made valid comments about provincial transfer payments from “have” provinces like Alberta to “have not” provinces like Ontario. I don’t dispute this, and have my own opinions about whether this program is sustainable, but that’s not the issue here. It seems to have come up in response to Jimmy Da Silva’s opinion that most people in Toronto and Montreal probably aren’t concerned with what happens in Alberta, and vice versa.
I don’t see how this is a jab at Alberta, and moreover, I think it’s most likely an accurate statement. Most Albertans could care less about what happens in Ontario or Quebec. I live in Alberta now, and have been quite content here for the majority of my adult/working life so far. I think I’ve naturally developed a certain pro-Alberta bias and loyalty because it’s where I live. I don’t see Jimmy’s contentment about living and working in Ontario as being any different. If he’s happy, who am I to criticize?
That said, I do think the decline of world oil prices and corresponding hit to Alberta’s energy-based economy will have an impact on Ontario, but it will likely be complex, multifaceted and extremely difficult to determine wether the net effect is positive or negative. I don’t know what industry Jimmy works in, but it’s bound to be affected in a macro-economic sense, whether it’s noticeable at the individual level or not. For example, lower oil prices have coincided with a weakened currency and further reduction in interest rates by the Bank of Canada. While this is hurting oil-producing provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and British Columbia, it ultimately benefits manufacturing and export-based provinces like Ontario. Economists are forecasting that the balance of economic power in Canada is starting to shift back to Ontario, which is expected to lead the nation in GDP this year. I know, forecasts are just that, and aren’t proof of anything.
But is Jimmy really wrong? We, especially those of us in Alberta, may not like it, but I think his opinion is closer to the truth than you’re giving him credit for. I feel like some commenters are engaging in the very behaviour they decry in those they commonly refer to as being “trolls”, by taking one, innocuous, opinion-based comment and extrapolating a straw-man argument that they can then proceed to tear down. Think about this: how much do you (Albertans) really think or care about what’s happening in Toronto? Right, so why do you expect Torontonians to care what happens here?
The bigger problem, I suggest, is that the current federal equalization and transfer program actually pits the provinces against each other, rather than encouraging them to work together for their own good, and for the common good of Canada as a whole. It’s not a coincidence that falling oil prices are tied to a weakening Canadian dollar.

DARRYL KERNEY – 2) Majority of Easterners who come here to work could give a S##T about local politics; They should.

I completely agree! It’s about dam time that All Canadians exercise more respect and consideration for their Provincial neighbours. This Country may well be on the eve of political devastation; confronting global denouncement and economic disgrace. Pray this is not the case!

CHARLES MOULTON – You said: I am sorry but I have to disagree with the statement that easterners give a shit about local politics. You also said: Alberta elected the NDP because of all the eastern assholes that moved here for the Alberta advantage. I said: Majority of Easterners who come here to work could give a S##T about local politics – meaning they don’t care one way or the other. I should have been clearer in my statement. First off, I am one of those easterners who came to Alberta for work; settled here and made Alberta my home. I am a voting member of this Province and I assure you, NDP was not; nor will they ever be my political party of choice. Many Easterners come here solely for the work; with no intention of permanent residence – those easterners reside in Alberta 6 & 8 months out of the year. Although they are contributors to local economies (i.e. Ft. Mac, Calgary, Edmonton, etc.) and the fulfil the Provincial voting requirements, they have no interest in politics or permanent residence. Historically, (please correct me if I’m wrong) most Eastern Provinces have had a love/hate relationship with the Liberal Party for decades. That in mind, I’m not so sure the fault lies entirely on the shoulders of Easterners for Alberta’s political debacle. Let’s just agree to disagree on this matter.

JIMMY DA SILVA – You said “considering Alberta has zero involvement and impact on the industry in that I work in – I think that I will be just fine in Ontario along with the other provinces that contribute to my industry.” Alberta may have no impact on the industry in which you work, but you fail (as usual) to recognize or acknowledge that Ontario is very reliant on the $20.4 billion in federal transfers from the have Provinces, Just this year alone Ontario required an additional $9.6 billion. Where do you actually think those monies will come from when the ‘have’ Provinces no longer have it to give? Better yet, how do you suppose socialists governments such as the Liberals and NDP’s are going to maintain (much less increase) financial aide for social programs such as income assistance, healthcare and education? I can tell you with a great deal of certainty where the monies will come from – your pocket and mine, and every other hard working Canadian! Canada will, without doubt, become the “tax” poorest country in the industrialized world! Our net worth will be right there alongside that of Greece. Our National debt will far surpass anything you are capable of imagining. So, Jimmy, you just sit there in your ideological world, believing the taint of Alberta’s NDP gov’t will have no affect on you. Keep trusting that the current Ontario Liberals and a newly elected Federal Liberal or NDP party is going to keep you snug and secure in your little world.

PETER NETTERVILLE – You wrote: Jimmy, why are you not capable of grasping the truth? That’s a tough question for Jimmy to answer. You have to be smarter than a 5th grader to assimilate the amount of information available; then you have to have some basic comprehension skills; coupled with rational thinking. Unfortunately, Jimmy has a severe case of cognitive dissonance! Not only is he in conflict with himself, he is in conflict with reality!

Hey Ezra get the terminology right – he’s not a Toronto mercenary, he is an NDP carpetbagger

JIMMY DA SILVA, “Why should I care about that? Ontario has given me and my loved ones a fantastic life. I am going to keep on enjoying that fantastic life in Ontario”, living in a have-not province getting handouts (transfer payments) from other provinces, including Alberta. According to Ontario’s debt clock (thank you DARRYL KERNEY)! Jimmy your share of Ontario’s $289 billion debt is something like $21,000. Any plans to pay it off? Oh, I forgot you don’t give a sh?t. Just pass “that fantastic life” that you are enjoying now on to the next generation; right?

I just spent the weekend in Manitoba. On the way there and back I noticed rigs drilling in both Sask. and Man. But what really caught my eye was the steady flow of trucks hauling drilling pipe eastbound from Alberta. Apparently the ndp are daft to their oil and business policies and the effect it has on everybody here and the rest of Canada. Its bad enough that Notley got a bunch of out of province anti-oil types, but put in a former Calgary councillor who believes that taxpayers are just ATMs.

Jimmy said.“Well considering Alberta has zero involvement and impact on the industry in that I work in – I think that I will be just fine in Ontario along with the other provinces that contribute to my industry.”

Please share Jimmy , please.

Charles asked Jimmy, " I mean what the hell is that women doing to your beloved province."

I would imagine that Jimmy thinks Wynne is the best Premier Ontario has ever had.

Jimmy you seem to think, that all the people on this site don’t give a shit.
Well Jimmy you would be 100% incorrect. Almost every blog I have read seems to state, they do give a shit…
Look at myself. I feel so sorry for the public and voters and taxpayers in Ontario. I mean what the hell is that women doing to your beloved province.

Now Jimmy, I really think you and I should have a beer together the next time I’m in Toronto.

I am so glad to here you won’t be affected by the Alberta Depression.
I guess I wish I had your career, or mind. That way I couldn’t give a sh%t about anything either.

DEBORAH RENAUD,
great comment !
about point 2,
2) Majority of Easterners who come here to work could give a S##T about local politics;

They should.

Jimmy, why are you not capable of grasping the truth?

Deborah,

Well considering Alberta has zero involvement and impact on the industry in that I work in – I think that I will be just fine in Ontario along with the other provinces that contribute to my industry.

Charles,

Why should I care about that? Ontario has given me and my loved ones a fantastic life. I am going to keep on enjoying that fantastic life in Ontario.