An astute reader of Ralph's World spotted this insightful exchange in the legislature on March 29th. It may explain some of the strange fiscal policies put forth by our Tory government.

From Hansard March 29, 2004

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question is again to the hon. Premier. Given that 1 in 5 children in the city of Edmonton grow up in poverty, when will this government cut its excessive travel and communications budget, take the $50 million in savings and reinvest it in those children?

Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, our Minister of Children’s Services is here. I don’t know if that figure, 1 in 5, is in fact true. Edmonton is approximately 1 million people, give or take. What he’s saying is that 200,000 children are living in poverty. That is absolutely astounding. That is unbelievable. I think that the hon. member doth exaggerate a lot, a tremendous amount. That is unbelievable in this day and age in this city in particular. I travel this city. I have never seen 200,000 impoverished kids. Never. Never. Never. That reminds me of a statement that was made by, well, an interim leader. I think there were about nine leaders of the Liberal Party across the way including the one we have right now. One of the Liberal leaders made this outrageous statement, and she was a respected . . . [interjection] No, no. She was well respected, but she talked about all of these people like every one was living in a dumpster. This hon. member is making the same kind of statement, a grossly, severely, inaccurately exaggerated statement. Relative to the real situation I’ll have the hon. minister respond.

Perhaps it's time Edmonton changed their motto from "City of Champions" to "City of Children"

Alberta Treasurer Pat Nelson in her budget speech last Wednesday indicated that spending on healthcare in the province has doubled in the last ten years and that this increase is not sustainable. While true, she misleads. Click here for details of the deception. First, ten years ago was right after the Klein Revolution cuts. If I were to cut my 13 year old’s allowance from $20/week to $10/week one month and then announce at my next month’s family budget address that I was doubling his allowance he would be unimpressed. He’s back to square one; he was short $10 last month; and his old man is asking him to be grateful. Second, Ms. Nelson does not factor in the fact that our population has grown substantially in that time. While that’s added cost, the government takes in healthcare premiums and income taxes from these folks to cover that. Finally, we are a wealthy province due to our resource royalties which amount to one third of our government’s budget, a luxury no other province comes close to enjoying. Perhaps we can afford to spend a bit more per person.

It is time to get to the real debate about health care costs. Who pays? The citizens pay of course through their taxes, through premiums, through private health insurance plans, and out of their own pockets. The Tories believe that healthcare premiums and/or private health insurance is the way to go. This would reduce what government has to pay and allow them to reduce taxes. Tax savings, as always, flow disproportionately to those better off. They will happily take their tax savings, subtract their government premiums, private plan premiums and the occasional uncovered procedure costs and still have money left over for a southern vacation when it gets nippy in the winter. The rest of us will sacrifice something else to find the money or go without coverage.

The alternative is to fund healthcare through the tax system. Those better off pay more for the same health care coverage than someone of lesser means. The Tories would have us believe that this is contrary to Albertan's sense of fair play and our independent, pioneer spirit. Others suggest that Albertan's have a strong sense of helping those less fortunate and would not begrudge if taxes rose for everyone to provide a top-notch health care system.

All political parties agree that the health care system should be the most efficient it can be. The debate is only about how to finance it. The Tories are testing the waters with their talk of unsustainable costs and user fees. It’s time to bring this debate out into the open and tackle the real issue.

Who pays?

The Edmonton based Seniors Action and Liaison Team(SALT) deplores the repeated efforts by the Alberta Government to claim health care is not sustainable, according to Noel Somerville, Chair of the SALT Communications Committee.

“SALT is profoundly disappointed by what is and is not contained in the 2004 Alberta Budget,” Somerville said, adding that “the Alberta government still adheres to the false premise that health care spending is not sustainable despite huge, un-budgeted, recurring surpluses and the fact that Alberta’s spending on health care has actually decreased over the past 10 years from 5.3% of GDP in 1993/94 to 4.9% of GDP in 2003/04, and from 30% of government revenue in 1993/94 to 27% of revenue in 2003/04.”

Somerville illustrated his point by reference to tables from Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Government of Alberta. Click below to see tables.

Health Care Spending as a Percentage of Provincial GDP
Government Funding as a Proportion of Total Governement Budget

Kevan Rhead, Acting Chair of SALT, pointed out “This false premise was repeated as recently as a week a go with the government’s release of their 20 year strategic plan where they state on Page 10 “Over the past 10 years, per-capita health costs have outpaced inflation and economic growth.” The attached GDP table proves the exact opposite. Health costs have in fact lagged behind inflation and economic growth.”

Further, the SALT representatives deplored the Government’s continuing use of the pretext of un-sustainability to argue for curtailment of services and for greater private sector involvement in the form of private for-profit surgical facilities, public, private partnerships to build hospitals and other public facilities, and private for-profit insurance companies.

Rhead said, “Eliminating the tax-exempt status of the not-for-profit Alberta Blue Cross will benefit no one except the private for-profit insurance industry.”

“Apparently, the government has learned nothing,” Somerville observed, “from our experience with auto insurance in Alberta that is significantly more expensive than the publicly administered auto insurance plans in the other three western provinces.” He said, “It is incredible that the government wants to abdicate its responsibility to administer an effective health care system and turn it over to the private, for-profit insurance industry. It is prepared to be “un-Canadian” to the point of importing an American style, bureaucratic, multi-payer, private for-profit, insurance-driven health care system into Alberta, even if it means giving up $1.3 billion in annual federal transfer payments.”

“Furthermore,” Rhead added, “we see little sign in the 2004 Alberta Budget that government is prepared to shoulder its responsibilities and make meaningful progress to address the problems related to:

• The under-funding of elementary and secondary education
  
• Post-secondary tuition fees that have risen 21% since 1999 and are 11.5% higher than the Canadian average
  
• The inadequacy of Alberta’s social programs in general and, in particular, the government’s unwillingness to effectively address the problems of child poverty and homelessness”.
  

Finally, SALT notes with extreme disappointment the government’s failure to eliminate health care premiums for all Albertans. “Health care premiums are in fact a regressive tax,” Somerville stated. “Their elimination would be a significant benefit both to employers and to individuals, such as seniors, who have to pay these premiums out of their fixed incomes.”

The Seniors Action and Liaison Team (SALT) is a self-financed group of Edmonton seniors concerned with social justice issues in Alberta and Canada.

For further information contact:
Noel Somerville. Chair, SALT Communications
Committee. Phone: (780) 452-1846, or
Kevan Rhead, Acting Chair of SALT. Phone: (780) 435-1121

From Alberta Hansard on Wednesday March 17th, 2004

Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The main problem facing Alberta’s health care system is not out-of-control costs; it’s mismanagement of the money we have. Yesterday I asked reasonable questions of the Minister of Health and Wellness about whether his department did due diligence on the electronic health record system.
The answer I got didn’t address the question, so I’ll give the minister another chance today. To the Minister of Health and Wellness:
given that the minister announced $59 million in October for health information systems, then provided the AMA with $65 million in November, and RHAs are spending untold millions more, will the
minister tell us the total expected cost of establishing the electronic health record system?

Mr. Mar: Well, Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day I feel
compelled to answer in the following manner.

There once was a man from Riverview
Whose opinions were respected by few.
He said: "It’s so grand
To have your head in the sand;
Our health system we need not renew".

Well Minister Mar obviously didn't make this up on the spot. He likely held a retreat somewhere to meet with his top minion to develop a response to Taft's anticipated question. Here's how that meeting might have gone.

Minister Gary: Roger. Taft is going to ask where all the cash is going on this electronic health record system thingy. How much have we spent so far?
Deputy Roger: I don't know. I thought you knew.
Minister Gary: Geez Rog. How are we going to answer. We're supposed to be fiscally responsible.
Deputy Roger: What's fiscally mean?
Minister Gary: Something about money I think.
Deputy Roger: Look. Just brush him off with a joke. How about a clever limerick. We can get one of them produced for under $15,000 I bet.
Minister Gary: Isn't that kind of expensive.
Deputy Roger: Not compared to what we're spending on the electronic records system.
Minister Gary: Good point. Have the limerick on my desk in time for Question Period on the 17th.
Deputy Roger: Yes Minister.

Click here to see CBC Calgary story: "The Klein government is creating false expectations by promising that 80 per cent of Alberta drivers will see lower premiums, the head of one of the country's biggest insurance companies says."

Poor Premier. After freezing auto insurance premiums at record high levels, he was pressured into promising that 80% of Alberta drivers would see lower premiums. Now Dominion Insurance CEO George Cooke says no way - we've got profits to make. As the story mentions, Mr Cooke's comments came a day before the insurance industry announced its net profits for 2003 of $2.63 billion, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, a 700 per cent increase over the previous year. What's a Premier to do?

Well he has to let the insurance company make big profits. It's the right wing, Progressive Conservative, pro-business, look-after-your-buddies thing to do. So suggesting they take less profit by truly competing with each other is out of the question. So the only ways to deliver lower premiums to 80% of Albertans as promised are:

1. Jack the rates on the other 20%.
2. Reduce the benefits your premiums deliver through caps etc.
3. Subsidize the insurance companies with royalty and tax dollars belonging to the citizens.

If you think number three can't happen, look at how our wealth is being transferred to the shareholders of electricity generators - through the magic of deregulation followed by rebates, oil sands companies - through the magic of minimum 1% royalties until capital costs are recovered , and US meat packing plants - through the magic of BSE relief to beef producers.

The solution will likely be a combination of all three.

Keep your eyes wide open folks.

Here is a letter sent to Premier Klein from Ireen Slater, St.Albert Chair & Regional Coordinator for SENIORS UNITED NOW (SUN). The Premiers response will be posted when it is received. Please check PRATS (Politicians Response and Tracking System) for the Premier's record to date.

March 9, 2004

Hon. Ralph Klein, Premier
Government of Alberta
#307 - 10800 97th Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2B7

Dear Premier Klein:

On behalf of the St. Albert members of Seniors United Now, I would like to draw your attention to the concerns of seniors in this province. Despite attempts by various groups and advocates of seniors to illicit some response we have been consistently ignored.

Since 1994 seniors have patiently awaited a return of the benefits that were taken away at that time. Other programs cut have since been restored, and even MLA’s have received an increase in pay. To date seniors have received nothing back, the cost of living continues to increase, yet our incomes remain fixed and the plight of many has deteriorated to crisis level. Those fortunate enough to have been able to prepare financially for retirement are finding that what they thought was sufficient is now woefully inadequate. Others who through life circumstances were limited in their ability to save are finding their quality of life seriously diminished in their declining years. We are told that seniors were consulted before the cuts but to what extent this was done is questionable. Regardless after ten years this is hardly relevant. The following is a quick review of what was lost and how this has affected seniors.
In total $672 million was taken away from seniors including:

* $480 per year for regular dental care
* assistance with dentures, hearing aids, eye glasses
* free health care premiums
* help to pay municipal taxes
* physiotherapy (greatly limited now)
* rental rebates
* home repair grants of up to $4,000
* assistance with home care needs (greatly limited)
* seniors receiving OAS and GIS cut by up to $95
* assistance for owners of low cost housing (decreasing this type of housing available to seniors)

In addition the cost of utilities has increased due to deregulation, long-term care and seniors lodges has been increased up to 48%, the cost of medications risen by 200%. Staff reductions in the medical field, the trend towards privatization, and the lack of standardized care in seniors’ homes have all had negative affects on seniors’ care. Cutoff levels for assistance are unrealistic creating a whole new level of poverty for the elderly. Studies show that privatization is not the answer and that an adequately supported public health system is self sustaining. A recent study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that in the past 10 years Alberta spent less on health care than any province as a share of the GDP increasing only by 1.5% to 2% per year.

In the early 1990’s, you appealed to us to help reduce the deficit, with the reassurance that things would be restored when the economy improved. At the same time the oil companies, a primary source of revenue for this province, had their royalties, taxes and other costs reduced. The loss of these royalties has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars in the last 10 years, and while the oil companies flourished, the social systems struggled. One wonders how the disenfranchised feel about funding the oil companies? You have responded to some degree to strong pressure from the more powerful education and health systems, but seniors continue to be ignored, despite Alberta’s current wealth. Sadly, for some, any help now will come too late, as the loss of revenue over the years, and the affect on their well being can never be restored.

What then are the affects? To enjoy a healthy and balanced lifestyle one needs adequate finances, healthy teeth to maintain good nutrition, proper eye wear to avoid accidents, drive a car, read etc., ongoing physiotherapy to maintain a healthy body and to enjoy a good quality of life without pain, hearing aids to avoid isolation, and enjoy social activities, and supports to remain in one’s home if this is desirable. Prevention is key, and more cost effective than critical care. The lack of these supports can result in depression, fear, poor nutrition, social isolation, loss of dignity, dependency on prescription drugs or alcohol, stress and the risk of abuse of the elderly who may be dependent on family for financial, physical or emotional support. Perhaps even suicide.

Government representatives have consistently defended the Government’s inaction by stating that seniors most in need are receiving assistance, implying that the rest of seniors are being greedy, and a drain on society. The facts are that the senior population of Alberta remains at 10%. 60% have an income of $20,000 or less, and many of these are just above the income cut off level for assistance. Only 7% of seniors have an income of $50,000 per year. Only 4% are in long-term care, and the rest are in their own homes, or renting. Seniors are healthier, live longer and continue to make significant contributions to their communities in the business and volunteer sector. They have helped to build this province through hard work and deserve some respect in their latter years. Many women worked in the home, some on the farm and volunteered their time giving them little opportunity to build their own financial independence. Women remain among the poorest in the country especially as they age. The recent “Speech from the Throne” did nothing to reassure us that we would be seeing any changes to government policy any time soon. Any reference to seniors focused on the cost of the upcoming generation of baby boomers. This seems irrelevant given that the majority of baby boomers are two income families, who have had more opportunity to build their financial resources, pay taxes and will continue to do so.

In conclusion, Mr. Premier, we urge that you show the senior citizens of this province that your Government cares about their welfare. We ask for the immediate restoration of all lost benefits, taking into consideration the increased cost of living over the past 10 years. It is essential that any policies being developed affecting seniors be done with the full consultation of seniors’ advocates, and professionals working with the elderly. Be assured that seniors groups are gaining momentum and are ready to fight for their rights. We respectfully request an early response.

Sincerely,

Ireen Slater, St.Albert Chair,
Regional Coordinator for SENIORS UNITED NOW (SUN)

Cc Mary O’Neill, MLA
Doug Horner, MLA

On January 21, 2004 Michael Marlowe wrote a letter to Premier Klein and copied the other MLA's in the Province. The subject was the Alberta Minimum wage. A copy of that letter was posted on Ralph's World and can be viewed by clicking here.

Jon Lord, Tory MLA for Calgary Currie is the first to respond and his e-mail to Michael is reproduced verbatim below. We track MLA responsiveness with our PRATS system which can be accessed by clicking here.

Here is Mr. Lord's response.

Mr. Marlowe, you would do well to go to my web-page at www.jonlord.ca, then go to the discussion pages, Social Issues, Minimum wage discussion, and read why raising the minimum wage is not the panacea you obviously think it is - in fact, about 8 out of 10 economists agree that raising the minimum wages does nothing to improve poverty, and in fact may make it worse for the poor. Life is much more complicated than you seem to realize, and the obvious, knee-jerk, simplistic answers you seem to think are no-brainers, clearly do not recognize this fact nor how complicated life really is. If it were so easy, simple, and obvious - how stupid do you think we are???? Why wouldn't we have done it long ago??? or do you really believe we went into politics to be mean, malicious people, working against the public interest?? If so, you really need to grow up a bit and quit reading so many newspaper headlines. Do your homework first, and show some respect for other people's intelligence, before writing such drivel to me again. Most of what you think are the solutions, are not nearly so clear-cut nor positive as you seem to simplistically seem to believe. Many of them, would make the problem worse for the very people you claim to be speaking for.

Good day sir

Sometimes you have to read between the lines when things the Premier says don't seem to make sense. The problem is really with us because we can't think outside the box the way Ralph and his crowd can. They are just way ahead of the citizens on most things.

This current disappearance of $400 million dollars of Albertan's tax dollars into the beef industry is a good example. Click here for details. Agriculture Minister Shirley McClellan says packing plants costs have risen because they must now pay for things like getting rid of animal parts (spinal cords for example) and it's only fair that the taxpayer should help them out. Now common sense tells us that $400 million seems like a lot for spinal cord disposal but that's because we don't think outside the box. If we did we would connect the missing $400 million with the fact that our Premier is down in the US offering Alberta as a prime location for our American neighbours to put their proposed anti-ballistic missile defense shield. See news story by clicking here. We know that Ralph is in tight with Vice President Dick Cheney so here's what I think happened.

VP Dick: Rolf! It's great to see you again ole buddy.
Premier Ralph: It's "Ralph" Mr. Vice-President.
VP Dick: Whatever. What's up? You've got three minutes.
Premier Ralph: I hear you need a place not on American soil to put your ABMs and I've got just the place for you.
VP Dick: Shoot
Premier Ralph: We'll hide 'em in three of our meat packing plants in Alberta. One in Calgary, one in Brooks, and one in High River. Nobody would ever think of looking for them there and our boys can use the business. As a matter of fact I've already spent $399 million building silos for them. We know how to build silos in Alberta being an agricultural nation and all.
VP Dick: $399 million? Why not $400 million?
Premier Ralph: We had to spend a million disposing of spinal cords.
VP Dick: OK Rolf, thanks for the offer. I've got somebody called Gordon Campbell waiting to see me - something about hiding the ABMs in old growth forests. I'll have to get back to you.
Premier Ralph: Look forward to hearing from you Mr. Vice-President.

How's that for outside the box?

Below is a letter sent to Premier Klein from Albertan Michael Marlowe with a copy to Ralph's World. We have entered the letter into our state-of-the-art Politician's Response and Tracking System, better known as PRATS. Click here to see how our politicians are faring.

To :premier@gov.ab.ca
CC :dave.hancock@gov.ab.ca, sharee.mastre@gov.ab.ca
Sent :March 6, 2004

Subject :Health Care Premiums, Senior Support Programs , Minimum Wages & Corporate Subsidies

Dear Premier Klein and all Caucus Members,

One individual, in his recent presentation to the Government MLA Committee on Strengthening Alberta's Role in Confederation, referred to emphasizing the 'progressive side of our Progressive Conservative Government'.

This reference and the response of the Hon. Clint Dunford to our constant question involving the minimum wage in Alberta, prompted this letter to you and caucus members. It appears to many that no change will take place in the following areas until there is a change in governance in our province.

1. The Minimum Wage
Minister Dunford indicated that the minimum wage is a first step in Alberta's labour market that offers job and wage opportunities. He claims our province prides itself in focusing to insure Albertans have skills to meet the demands of a strong labour market and yet our government actually turns its back on
those employees, albeit only 1.2% of the labour force who receive the lowest minimum wage in Canada - $5.90 an hour for the services such workers provide. By not increasing the minimum wage, even though the Mayors and Councillors/Aldermen representing well over 80% of Alberta's population last
fall at their annual Urban Municipal Association's meeting passed a motion encouraging your government increase the minimum wage in two stages to $6.90 an hour since they believe it would be economically good for all concerned, your government Mr. Premier vetoed such thought and continues to do so.

Is it because, even though many caucus members may have supported increasing the minimum wage, your comments publicly had an affect on their decision that although you personally do not support increasing the minimum wage, you would go along with what caucus members decide. Did you really believe caucus members would approve an increase knowing you made your personal feelings in
this regards publicly? After all Mr. Premier, you also did state publicly that only one voice counted in caucus and that was your voice, and with such a comment, surely, even though there was support for an increased minimum wage by the Mayors and Councillors/Aldermen, your voice publicly took precedence with caucus members.

It appears your government would rather have low-income Albertans apply to the government for low-income support than allowing them to enjoy a reasonable minimum wage for the services they provide. A reasonable minimum wage would no doubt reduce the number of such applications for support.

2. Health Care Premiums:
How can emphasize the progressive side of your government when your government imposes a regressive tax - Health Care Premium tax - which tax doesn't exist is most other provinces in our country. That tax was even increased not too many years ago.

With progressiveness usually come equality in treatment of all Albertans. Do you believe this occurs in Alberta?

We have many seniors as one example, similar to many other Albertans, whose incomes are barely over $27 thousand annually. They are required to pay full Health Care Premiums and even though at least 45% of their income are spent on one form of tax or another, they find their tax dollars subsidize in part or in full Premium Costs for our MLAs, municipal elected officials, teachers, nurses and all other public sector workers. This, in spite of the fact that all of these latter individuals have double and quadruple the incomes these individuals have. Is this an equitable situation for any progressive Conservative
Gov't to have?

3. Have we really gotten out of business of being in business?
Or has our government developed a way to provide grant dollars or subsidies indirectly in corporate welfare to Corporations, when our government not so many years ago stated they would stay out of business.

When oil was only $10 a barrel several years ago, companies in the oil-sands were making ends meet and made a few dollars. Now that oil has been over $25 a barrel for a number of years and over $30 a barrel for over a year, newspaper reports of profits of over $1 billion dollars are becoming more common every month. And yet, our government has been granting some of these corporations royalty holidays in excess of $330 million annually, Albertans rightfully owned royalty dollars. These royalty holiday dollars would go a long way in providing Health Care Premiums for all Albertans.

4. Seniors Eliminated Support Programs
In 1995, Mr. Premier, you at that time were quoted as saying your government would review the drastically reduced senior support programs that had taken place. This review has carried on for almost 10 years with further reduced senior support programs taking place. We recently received a letter from the Seniors' Minister that these programs are under review. Still?

Your failure to respond personally as requested in our letter to you early in December or even invite seniors to meet with you gives many seniors the impression your government has no intentions to return in part or in full any of the universal senior support programs that your government eliminated and you are not prepared to assure seniors publicly that no further reductions will take place in what support programs remain.

Your government, like no other government in Canada, has been blessed with resource revenues the envy of all other governments. But, the only ones who have benefited are those primarily in the public sector, teachers, doctors, nurses, and those Alberta with more than reasonable average incomes through the flat tax system. Public sector salaries a few decades ago averaged 10% below comparable work in the private sector because of the benefits including pensions provided them. Today, public sector benefits have increased over the years and their salaries are now averaging 15% higher than in the private sector.

Today, minimum wage earners and seniors who have lost their support programs and are on fixed incomes, are the only ones not benefiting from the Alberta Advantage and the blessings of the increased revenues pouring into government coffers.

It appears Mr. Premier that many of us will have to look to supporting change in governance as your government continues to cater to corporations and those Albertans who have continuously enjoyed incomes in the higher income brackets.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Marlowe

Below is a letter from the the Coalition of Seniors Advocates to Tory MLA Karen Kryczka. As is our custom here at Ralph's World, we will publish Karen's response if and when it is received. If you would like to encourage Karen to respond you may e-mail her at karen.kryczka@assembly.ab.ca.

Click here for a record of Alberta MLA's responsiveness to letters written in the past.

Here's the letter.

March 1, 2004


Ms. Karen Kryczka
MLA, Calgary West
Government of Alberta
#503 – 10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6

Dear Karen:

The February 27, 2004 COSA rally/demonstration was a great success. The presentation to the Calgary Caucus was frustrating because of the Klein government’s undemocratic control of public presentations - of which Albertans will be informed.

COSA takes exception to your February 27th comment on television whereby you infer that seniors should look to the United Way for financial assistance. You are no doubt referring to the Seniors Services Intersectoral Planning study which is still in the planning stage. This study in no way provides direct financial support to seniors. I know, I’m on the Committee. You should make a public apology to the seniors of Alberta.

Finally, I am taking inquiries from seniors asking how they can get funding from the United Way. How embarrassing.

Yours sincerely,


Jerry Pitts,
Chairman, COSA

Cc: Calgary Sun Calgary Herald
Calgary Seniors Edmonton Journal
One Voice Premier Ralph Klein
MLA Dr. Raj Pannu MLA Laurie Blakeman
MLA Richard Magnus SUN
SALT United Way
Harry Chase COSA Website
Ralph’s World Website

Article by Andrew Nikiforuk: "Here's the perception: Ralph Klein is Canada's leading neo-conservative revolutionary, whose small-government and free-market policies have brought unparalleled prosperity to Alberta. Now here's the reality."

Have a look at this December 2002 article by Andrew Nikiforuk. It is 15 months old but it goes a long way to explaining why such a rich province like ours has so few citizens participating in the benefits.

"I've had enough of this crap" Ralph Himself muttered as he ran from reporters at a newsconference yesterday regarding the BSE crisis in our Province. See news stories by clicking here and here and a previous Ralph's World posting here. You can even watch Ralph courtesy of CTV by clicking here.

Read on.

"Providing a fair marketplace for both buyers and sellers is a priority for Government Services. Consumer Services contributes to this goal by investigating consumer complaints, enforcing consumer protection legislation, licensing and bonding regulated businesses, informing consumers of their rights and responsibilities, and providing an appropriate regulatory framework for consumers and business."

The above quote is from the Alberta Government website. It states what the Alberta Government Consumer Services Branch professes to do. Ralph refuses to allow an investigation into whether our tax dollars for BSE support of the cattle producers has instead flowed to the bottom line of meat packers Cargill and Tyson. He says it is up to the Feds to investigate that. Hmmmm. Would not this investigation come under the professed aim of "Providing a fair marketplace for both buyers and sellers?". Guess Ralph has a different concept of fair marketplace than his PR folks have. They really should coordinate on things like this.

Speaking of investigations, here's something I would like to see investigated.

Has any reporter headed down to the Elections Alberta office at Suite 100, 11510 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 2Y5, Canada to see what contributions Cargill and Tyson made to the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party?

Ralph's says he's had enough of this crap. This crap is reporters daring to question Ralph Himself about where taxpayer money goes in this Province.

I've had enough of this crap too. Klein Krap.

New Democrats Uncover Draft Report: "Meat packers winning big from mad cow says report
Government compensation helps big business, ranchers left in the dust"

Have a look at this summary on the Alberta ND website and then, if you want to dig a little deeper, click here to read a copy of the Draft Report. You will need Acrobat Reader. Better hurry before the report gets yanked off the web.

Seems that whenever the free enterprise Tories intervene in the free market (by using our tax dollars), all of the money seems to flow to the bottom line of the companies involved. Here's how it works in a nutshell.

BSE - Government gives producer financial aid using our tax dollars. Packing plants reduce price they are willing to pay ranchers by equal amount so rancher nets zero. Packers sell to grocery chains at same old price resulting in windfall profits for packers.
Klein 1, Albertans 0.

Auto Insurance - Government waits until premiums are at record highs (up 50% in Alberta) and then freezes them. Insurance companies call Premier "decisive" and "a maverick". Ralph loves to be called a maverick. Insurance companies pocket windfall profits.
Klein 2, Albertans 0

Electricity Deregulation - Government sells off Albertan's assets at bargain basement prices to electrical power generation companies. Generation companies "compete" with each other resulting in much higher electricity costs for Albertans and windfall profits for the generating companies. Funny how competition works in Klein's Alberta. Ralph gives us some of our money back just before election.
Klein 3, Albertans 0

Natural Gas Deregulation - Free market drives up price of natural gas to all Albertans. Production costs stay about the same for producers resulting in windfall profits for producers and increased royalties for government. Government uses royalty money (our money) to place gas caps on prices to consumers. Producer's revenue is now a combination of our monthly bill payments and our royalty wealth. They don't care where the profits come from as long as they come.
Klein 4, Albertans 0.

We're down four to nothing folks. Ralph's Team just signed Mr Privatization Steve West to a multi-year contract and he's using our tax dollars to pay him. Steve's job is to bring all the glories of Power Deregulation to the Wonderful World of Healthcare. If we don't get going it's going to be eight nothing.

It's time to start fighting back!

This presentation was given by Verna Milligan, citizen of Alberta, to the Government MLA Committee on Strengthening Alberta's Role in Confederation at its hearing in Edmonton on Friday, February 27, 2004. She has kindly agreed to have it published here at Ralph's World.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to meet with you today.

I speak as a citizen of Alberta and Canada. But I have to have an extra strong cup of coffee these past several years before opening my newspaper – lest I see another glaring headline announcing that I am no longer part of another aspect Canadian society. They are becoming more and more intense – and alarming! This is the first time I’ve been asked my opinion.

Alberta is an amazing place to live: unmatched in beauty and resources but it is also amazing for several other reasons:

1. Amazing that in one decade, the philosophy and social principles of Peter Lougheed, “that all Albertans should share in the rich resources of our province” could be so totally reversed and devastated. Jim Dinning once said, “Normal doesn’t live here any more”. How true! Albertans have lost their normal sense of community, not only within the country of Canada – but even within our own borders. Ontario farmers sent Albertans free hay while some in the South were “gouging” their fellow Albertans. The well-off are pitted against the “problem-causing poor”, the young against the “healthcare- eating” seniors, and education against healthcare.

2. Amazing that our Provincial Government can keep a straight face when demanding elected Senators – when they just finished firing all the elected members of our Regional Health Boards a mere 18 months into their first and only term. A promise made prior to the 1997 election – and broken immediately after! Isn’t that Taxation without Representation?

3. Amazing to even think about opting out of Canada Pension Plan when we look at Alberta’s track record in investing:

Our Heritage Fund is at the original $12 Billion while Norway’s is $140 Billion. The secret? Royalties are higher in both Alaska and Norway – and the funds are at Arms Length from politicians – not a “candy dish” for politicians in power. By the way, the Alberta Government has never explained why, Alberta is still giving $300 Million PER YEAR in reduced Royalties – subsidies - to Petroleum Producers. (shouldn’t the industry be properly termed “Petroleum Extractors”? Our resources are not unlimited.)

And Alberta had a surplus of $ 7.4 Billion in 2000 (even after $ 4 Billion unbudgeted ‘rebates’) – but faced a financial ‘crisis’ a year later – forcing 30% higher healthcare premiums and curtailment of programs and infrastructure plans.

And a new report of the World Bank’s equates Alberta’s accounting systems with that of a Third World Country.

4. Amazing to hear our Provincial representatives demand more democracy and accountability Federally -- while denying Albertans even a fraction of theirs. Isn’t it true that the Federal Auditor General can “follow the money”, but the Provincial’s Auditor is restricted to studying “accounting systems”?

Where are the All Party Committees in Alberta? And the membership of the appointed committees for Auto Insurance, Protection of Persons in Care – make even the most diehard Conservative blush with shame! And room for dissent, no matter how many thousands? As the Premier told Readers Digest, “I just dismiss them”.

Alberta has had it's boondoggles: Calgary is in crisis. Blowing up a General Hospital and selling off two others (one for $ 4.5 M) -- when they can’t be replaced for under $500 Million – and years from now. But is anyone being held accountable for these irreversible decisions? Whose “heads have rolled”? Alberta’s boondoggles are on the backs of a population of 3 Million – as opposed to those in the Federal Government that is born by a population of ten times that number.

5. Amazing to ask for more Provincial control over healthcare when Insurance Companies are bilking citizens into buying “Interprovincial health insurance” at the same rate as going to the United States. Yes, the Feds have to pay their fair share – but with “Strings Attached” to the Canada Health Act.

Costs spiraling out of control? Not those under the Medicare Umbrella – but those that have been “cherry picked” from Medicare, resulting in a mushrooming of unplanned and uncontrolled private clinics – siphoning from the Medicare Bucket, some even advertising for more customers!
(Example: bone density tests from 1995-2001 went from $470,000 to $14 Million in five years)
Blue Cross is now “leveled” to the base plane of automobile insurance – and if citizens felt “powerless” then – they haven’t seen anything like ”pre-existing conditions” or cancellation because of sickness! And what is the cost to Employee Benefit plans of RHA’s, Municipalities, School boards, and individuals.

And now we are planning “Hotel Health”! Is this Step One in separating the “accommodation” fee from healthcare – as the Government has done in Nursing Homes, resulting in a 45 percent increase to residents?

By the way, why didn’t the Capital Health Authority, which discussed the Mazankowski report at several meetings, refused to have the Romanow Report entered as an Agenda item?

Alberta Advantage? Lets talk reality here. We have a population of 3 Million people – and a budget Surplus of $3.5 Billion – yet we have people sleeping on the streets in our climate.

Amazing that Albertans know that “ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY” so why would we hand more control of these vital aspects of our society to ONE government , instead of promoting and enhancing the healthy balance of power between our Federal and Provincial Governments?

Thank you,

Verna Milligan