Alberta again asks for public input as it builds new provincial budget
Feedback in last round outlines public’s priorities
ED MONTON • The Alberta government is once again going through a “build- abudget” process, asking Albertans to come forward with their suggestions for what should be in the next provincial budget.
The United Conservatives, deeply fond of public consultations and feedback from Albertans, did so during the last round of budget-making.
While circumstances have admittedly changed — the province has been battered by a steep economic decline and the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of abating — documents provided to the National Post under freedom of information legislation detail the priorities Albertans had last time, and may maintain again.
The government provided the first 1,000 pages out of 3,000 total received. Some of the suggestions informed government priorities, no doubt about that. Others, though, such as the frequent suggestion to adopt a provincial sales tax, fell upon deaf ears. Here’s what Albertans wanted last year:
Education and health care
Without a doubt, education and health care were the big ticket items in demand. And those who asked for these twin budget crushers also made suggestions about how the money might be found to pay for them.
“Rescind the massive tax cuts for corporations,” says one suggestion. “Trickle- down economics is a myth, created and perpetuated by rich people who want to be richer.”
The war room — technically called the Canadian Energy Centre — was also a frequent target.
“Stop going to court every time ( Premier Jason) Kenney has hurt (feelings). I feel my tax dollars are going to courtrooms instead of classrooms,” says another submission.
Low- cost dentistry and braces, changes to billing codes for constipation and cutting veterinary costs also make an appearance.
Now, if these all sound like submissions from NDP supporters, that might be true. But, there are others who tackle these issues from another angle: Several submissions call on the government to reform how doctors are paid ( and indeed, the government has picked this fight): “They consistently over- bill and over- treat to pad their own pockets,” says one submission.
Others still call for privatizing some medical services.
Justin Trudeau
It’ll surprise no one that the relationship between Alberta and the federal government gets a fair amount of attention.
“Create jobs, get rid of Trudeau before he completely destroys Alberta,” says one submission. How to do it, you might ask? “DO NOT Give the feds any transfer payments grow a set, ha.”
There’s the occasional supporter, though: “Increased responsibility of government and cabinet. Quit blaming other levels of government,” says one person.
Now, the occasional person also wants to stick it to other parts of Canada. Under the budgetary priority of combating “eco- terrorists” and “forcing a federal election,” one suggestion is “toll roads coming from BC into Alberta. Tax all BC commerce and goods travelling across Alberta lands.”
Just separate already
Not technically a budgetary argument, but some suggestions imply Alberta would be more easily able to pay for things if the province were independent.
“You say you won’t let Trudeau push you out of your own country. Then move back east or get behind the people of Alberta; you know we want separation!” says one suggestion, directed at Kenney.
“Being ruled by people thousands of kilometers away, from a different culture, with a different history and different vision of our future is the major reason Alberta is not the economic powerhouse Albertans want it to be,” says one suggestion, calling for more health care spending and a provincial police force.
“Without independence the government of Alberta is limited to moving deck chairs when it needs to be at the helm to support job creation and economic growth for Alberta.”
Naturally, several others say stop flirting with separation: “Stop talking about separation, it’s turning away investors and companies as it’s showing Alberta is unstable.”
Cuts!
There are a lot of suggestions on how to cut spending. Arts and culture are prime targets. Several others argue for cutting funding to Catholic schools. Several suggest cutting management within the public service, health care and education. Trims here and there, such as to overtime pay for nurses, also pop up.
“Cutting fat public service employees when 80k people have lost their jobs is a start and sends a good message,” says one such suggestion.
Some suggest cutting political salaries: “Politicians salaries & benefits, if you feel that you can make cuts to everyone else’s pay, you first need to be willing to make cuts to your own.”
Miscellaneous?
Multiple ideas are hard to categorize. Some are fantastical. Some, well, just take a look.
“Fire Jason Kenney and his entire cabinet and replace them with monkeys that work for bananas. Same outcome and banana peels are biodegradable,” says one person.
Another has to do with the justice system, arguing for “bringing in actual work camps for prisoners to do work i. e. shovelling snow, cutting firewood, picking garbage and cleaning up Crown lands etc.”
In an argument in favour of sex education, one person argues that “Apps like Instagram, and Tiktok perpetuate the sort of addictions especially in young men. They cause our young women to act morally corrupt. Yes, we have sexual liberation but it’s not the answer. Responsibility is.”
Several people also argue for ending funding to abortion. Still others say to end distribution of Naloxone, which arrests opioid overdose. “Put a lot of tax on marijuana products,” argues another.