Conservatives Will Fix Equalization
Plus Canada's New Governor General, Speaking Up for Alberta Energy at the Western Governor's Association, Meeting with the Calgary Police Service, and Happy Stampede
Conservatives Will Fix Equalization
Yesterday, the Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, Erin O’Toole announced that a future Conservatives government would enact my private member’s bill, The Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act, as the first step in restoring fairness for Albertans within Canada.
The Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act removes the cap on the fiscal stabilization fund to ensure Albertans get their full equalization rebate. The fiscal stabilization program exists to provide an equalization rebate when a province experiences a large drop in revenues—like Alberta did in 2014. The fiscal stabilization program caps payments at $170 per capita. This means that for the year 2020-2021, Alberta would receive $750 million in a fiscal stabilization payment, without the cap, Alberta would receive $3 billion a difference of $2.25 billion. The Conservative plan goes one step farther than just ensuring that Albertans get their full $3 billion rebate for 2020-2021, but it would also rebate backdated payments to 2015 for an estimated total of $4.65 billion.
Next, the Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act ensures that the federal government cannot unilaterally change the equalization formula. In the spring of 2018, the Liberals extended the equalization formula in an omnibus budget bill. The formula was extended without any consideration for the massive GDP drops Alberta experienced from 2014-2018. The extension was done without any approvals from the provinces and without a fulsome debate in Parliament.
Finally, the Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act ensures that a successful provincial referendum on equalization cannot be ignored by the federal government.
At the doors in the last election, I heard from countless Albertans that they wanted the Conservatives to fix equalization. Immediately after my re-election, I set to work meeting with key stakeholders including several provincial governments and my constituents to come up with tangible policy solutions. This culminated in my sponsoring of the Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act on February 1, 2021. You can watch my explanation of the bill here: https://fb.watch/v/3-PJO1ovZ/, and you can read the full text of the bill here: https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-263/first-reading.
Fixing equalization is now the official position of the Conservative Party of Canada. You can watch the announcement here: https://fb.watch/6D8fCNGUAX/.
For the last six years, the Liberal government has looked for every excuse to attack Albertans. It’s time for that to change. This is a first step in restoring fairness for Albertans in Confederation, there will be more to come.
Canada’s New Governor General
This week, Mary Simon was nominated to be Canada’s 30th Governor General. She will become the representative of the state in Canada and brings diplomatic experience as well as executive leadership experience into her newest role. She will have the enormous challenge to repair the damage done by Trudeau’s previous failed pick, Julie Payette, who resigned in disgrace after confirmed bullying allegations and very low morale in the Governor General’s Office.
Mary Simon has served as a broadcaster, indigenous and Northern advocate, and as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark.
Speaking Up for Alberta Energy at the Western Governor’s Association
I spent Canada Day weekend at the Western Governor’s Association annual meeting as one of three conservative Canadian delegates. We heard from the governors of several Western states, and the American Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture. We discussed Canada’s relationship with the United States on key policy issues—especially energy policy and border measures.
Meeting with the Calgary Police Service
Last week I organized a meeting with all the Calgary Members of Parliament and the Calgary Police Service to discuss morale in the police force and the concerns I’ve heard from constituents about their application of the public health restrictions.
We had a fulsome discussion and the officers were attentive to the concerns I’ve heard from constituents.
Happy Stampede! Yahoo!
Today marks the first day of the Calgary Stampede. Now that the province is completely open for summer, the Stampede will be a great celebration as we look ahead past COVID-19. I hope that you all enjoy the time celebrating our great city and its proud tradition.
You can check out the schedule for every pancake breakfast in the city below.
Are you willing to abandon your efforts to ban abortion, deny climate change, and sell conversion therapy? If not, you will never be in a position to enact this legislation.
This will guarantee votes “Fixing equalization is now the official position of the Conservative Party of Canada.” It’s long past due but thank you Conservatives! 👍💕