Is anyone happy about today’s announcement of a deal to move forward on an arena event center for Calgary? I mean, it’s not every day that the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and lefty policy wonks find themselves vehemently agreeing with one another.
This must be the mindset that convinced Travis Toews, that most hawkish of fiscal hawks, to quit. Danielle Smith is channelling her inner drunken sailor, frantically trying to buy the election before anyone notices her spending promises 1) expire on 1 June 2023 or 2) realize that the province is dangerously close to deficit spending again.
“Deficit spending?” Yup. Noticed the price of oil lately? Down into the $70-80 range. Not bad at all compared to the last eight years, but still…. The province is even more desperately reliant on oil revenue than ever. A $1 drop in oil prices can hit the government with a $600 million dollar loss! Rather than diversifying the economy, Jason Kenney’s UCP have made us more dependent—i.e., addicted—to oil royalties than ever.
We have to face facts, a thing Albertans do only when forced to—kicking and screaming the whole time. Oil revenue cannot guarantee long-term stability. Worse, decades of austerity government (a.k.a. “break it, blame the victims, and privatize it”) have left Alberta badly short of the good will and social supports to help people get through the lean times.
That’s why I expect the next guv’mint—no matter WHO wins—to cut spending. Notley, I expect to cut some of the dumber UCP/ TBA programs, notably the R-Star subsidy-in-all-but-name. Hopefully Notley will again cut agencies, boards and commissions—starting with the War Room, and Alberta Energy Regulator second in line. Firing AER’s entire senior management and bringing the departments back into the Environment ministry would be a good start.
If, God forbid, Smith’s UCP/TBA frankenparty wins, we’ll be in even bigger trouble. Smith’s ministers must have told her she’s over-spending. They must know oil revenue is precarious. As soon as their butts are glued to the Minister’s chairs again, they’ll discover that Alberta is in a deficit (“who knew? Oh the humanity”) and it’s time to cut, cut, cut again.
Silver-lining time for Calgary: the cuts Smith imposes on Smith’s election budget might save Calgary from a bad deal. If the TBA government takes back their grant money, the arena deal will fall through. Again. I dunno, is that something to wish for? If this is victory, we’re all done for.
As a Calgarian, I hope they name it "Murray Edwards Place". All the boxes will have carpets with Danielle Smith's head on them, in a pleasing & attractive pattern.
This is classic vote buying by Danielle Smith, because she knows she is finished. The UCP will be going down with her. It's also a contradiction from her earlier stance, when she was the Wildrose leader. There are far more important priorities than a hockey arena. Healthcare, education, the less fortunate, and the environment, to name a few. Here is Danielle Smith's earlier stance on a hockey arena.
This must be the mindset that convinced Travis Toews, that most hawkish of fiscal hawks, to quit. Danielle Smith is channelling her inner drunken sailor, frantically trying to buy the election before anyone notices her spending promises 1) expire on 1 June 2023 or 2) realize that the province is dangerously close to deficit spending again.
“Deficit spending?” Yup. Noticed the price of oil lately? Down into the $70-80 range. Not bad at all compared to the last eight years, but still…. The province is even more desperately reliant on oil revenue than ever. A $1 drop in oil prices can hit the government with a $600 million dollar loss! Rather than diversifying the economy, Jason Kenney’s UCP have made us more dependent—i.e., addicted—to oil royalties than ever.
We have to face facts, a thing Albertans do only when forced to—kicking and screaming the whole time. Oil revenue cannot guarantee long-term stability. Worse, decades of austerity government (a.k.a. “break it, blame the victims, and privatize it”) have left Alberta badly short of the good will and social supports to help people get through the lean times.
That’s why I expect the next guv’mint—no matter WHO wins—to cut spending. Notley, I expect to cut some of the dumber UCP/ TBA programs, notably the R-Star subsidy-in-all-but-name. Hopefully Notley will again cut agencies, boards and commissions—starting with the War Room, and Alberta Energy Regulator second in line. Firing AER’s entire senior management and bringing the departments back into the Environment ministry would be a good start.
If, God forbid, Smith’s UCP/TBA frankenparty wins, we’ll be in even bigger trouble. Smith’s ministers must have told her she’s over-spending. They must know oil revenue is precarious. As soon as their butts are glued to the Minister’s chairs again, they’ll discover that Alberta is in a deficit (“who knew? Oh the humanity”) and it’s time to cut, cut, cut again.
Silver-lining time for Calgary: the cuts Smith imposes on Smith’s election budget might save Calgary from a bad deal. If the TBA government takes back their grant money, the arena deal will fall through. Again. I dunno, is that something to wish for? If this is victory, we’re all done for.
As a Calgarian, I hope they name it "Murray Edwards Place". All the boxes will have carpets with Danielle Smith's head on them, in a pleasing & attractive pattern.
This is classic vote buying by Danielle Smith, because she knows she is finished. The UCP will be going down with her. It's also a contradiction from her earlier stance, when she was the Wildrose leader. There are far more important priorities than a hockey arena. Healthcare, education, the less fortunate, and the environment, to name a few. Here is Danielle Smith's earlier stance on a hockey arena.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/news/politics/wildrose-wouldnt-fund-costly-oilers-arena-if-elected-smith-says/article4096604/
Great article!