[Banff]

Calvert irked by Harper's equalization comments ...excuse me for sounding stupid but could someone please explain to me whether this article is saying that the federal government wants to cancel Ottawas tax portions of Sask .revenues from Oil and Gas or keep the revenue and still eliminate the equilization payments to Saskatchewan ?


Calvert irked by Harper's equalization comments
Last Updated Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:20:12 EDT
CBC News

The burning debate over equalization payments heated up some more Wednesday after Prime Minister Stephen Harper appeared to ease away from a promise to take oil and gas revenues out of the formula.
Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert called Prime Minister Stephen Harper's comments 'a betrayal.' (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

* INDEPTH: Equalization payments

Harper's comments at the western premiers conference in Gimli, Man., displeased Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert.

Ottawa pays billions of dollars annually to the so-called have-not provinces so they can have services and tax levels similar to the rest of the country.

This year, thanks to surging oil revenues, Saskatchewan joined Ontario and Alberta in not receiving any equalization.

The provincial government has been lobbying Ottawa to change the formula so that revenue from non-renewable resources is not included in the calculations. That would put more dollars into the Saskatchewan government coffers.

'It would represent a betrayal to a promise made and a betrayal, I would say, of the support that was earned by this prime minister in the province of Saskatchewan.'-Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert

Earlier this week, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the government was committed to taking oil and gas out of the formula.

But Wednesday, Harper indicated that was just a "preference." He said the government hasn't made up its mind and was waiting for a special panel on equalization to weigh in on the issue.

Harper's comments were criticized by Calvert, according to the Canadian Press.

Calvert said the federal government indicated a commitment, not a preference.

"It would represent a betrayal to a promise made and a betrayal, I would say, of the support that was earned by this prime minister in the province of Saskatchewan," Calvert told CP.

[Scape]

Harper wants all the chips on the table no matter what. Klein won't be happy.

[Banff]

Scape wrote:

Harper wants all the chips on the table no matter what. Klein won't be happy.

Thanks for replying Scape ...so inotherwards Ottawa wants the revenues but wants out of participating in Canada ? Saskatchewan is filthy rich in resources but noone seems to be in a hurry to develop them ...not even Ottawas Harper I guess if that is the case then fuck him and bye bye cons you won't last "Seriously" I don't care about the transfer payments but to avoid serious development and want all the chips at the same time is just pushing Ottawas luck way too far .Maybe we need a civil war

[Scape]

One way to look at it I suppose.... You have to keep in mind oil is big money right now (it sure is making Russia rich!) and there will be new major players on the scene soon such and the newfies and BC (off shore is only a matter of when not if). It is just too big to give a mulligan to as it is one of the major money makers for the government and will continue to be so no matter who runs the show.

[Banff]

PS ...I sincerely appreciated your reply . Sorry I seemed somewhat naive about the definition but I needed to know . Thanks again .

[ziggy]

Quote:

Saskatchewan is filthy rich in resources but noone seems to be in a hurry to develop them ..

Well.....I could say something about the Kneedippers but that would be a cheap political shot right?

Ralph would have those resources producing likety split,you folks saving that oil for a rainy day or what?

[Banff]

ziggy wrote:

Quote:

Saskatchewan is filthy rich in resources but noone seems to be in a hurry to develop them ..

Well.....I could say something about the Kneedippers but that would be a cheap political shot right?

Ralph would have those resources producing likety split,you folks saving that oil for a rainy day or what?

Sorry I've been fucking around with the stupid mouse on the laptop for the last hour because the port keeps surging and I hate using the pad . It's Definitely worth replying to your post there Zig ....Myself and a woman who owns a zillion of those buffalo just on this side of the border had a chat with the son of an oil company family for about an hour right in her little store . He had all kinds good info about hoping to bump this provincial government and pal up with Alberta . Thats been steadily roaming around for quite sometime and a very good reason why you see production slowly rising here . Most of these companies are tied in with Alberta or at least have serious connections with Ralphland . I guess my biggest Buffalo (Beef) is that Fuck Wad Ottawa and the weirdness of this provincial government . Anyone want to buy a historical Let Those eastern bastards freeze T-shirt Maybe Calvert will finally clue in .Its funny how the provinces run Ottawa but Ottawa does nothing but babysit Quebec . I'm sure everything I said here will cause an earful to come my way but fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck ......where the hell did that fuck it thread go . oh I almost forgot .... BLUENOSE : now you have my permission to say Banffs posts are like the guy walking down the street ...blah blah blah ....