Improving Canada - starting with Alberta
karra @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:38 pm
$1:
Alberta seniors off hook for health premiums
Last Updated Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:26:00 EDT
EDMONTON - Alberta seniors will no longer have to pay health-care premiums, a move expected to put an extra $1,000 a year in their pockets.
The Tory caucus approved the elimination of the fees for all seniors – regardless of income – Wednesday morning. Premier Ralph Klein's cabinet had given its OK Tuesday.
The change will take effect Oct. 1, and is expected to cost the province $46 million for the rest of this year and an estimated $92 million a year after that.
FROM JULY 12, 2004: Alberta declares itself debt-free
Seniors Minister Stan Woloshyn, who isn't running in the next election, says he was glad to have the fees eliminated before he leaves office.
Critics have accused the government of buying votes in an election expected to be called as early as this fall.
"It's just so cynical that it's just rather insulting, I think, to the intelligence of seniors," Brian Mason, leader of the New Democrats, said.
Woloshyn says the government is heeding critics who have taken it to task for removing benefits from seniors.
He says the decision has nothing to do with an upcoming election, and says his caucus colleagues simply recognize that seniors live on fixed incomes.
Ron Ellis, president of the 5,000-member Seniors United Now, which formed to pressure the government to restore benefits taken away in the 1990s, says seniors are angry.
"I don't think this by itself is going to change their minds to any great degree," Ellis said.
He says seniors are still worse off than before Klein took office.
Health-care premiums have been a hot topic in other parts of the country. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced a premium in Ontario shortly after winning an election in which he vowed not to raise taxes.
Last Updated Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:26:00 EDT
EDMONTON - Alberta seniors will no longer have to pay health-care premiums, a move expected to put an extra $1,000 a year in their pockets.
The Tory caucus approved the elimination of the fees for all seniors – regardless of income – Wednesday morning. Premier Ralph Klein's cabinet had given its OK Tuesday.
The change will take effect Oct. 1, and is expected to cost the province $46 million for the rest of this year and an estimated $92 million a year after that.
FROM JULY 12, 2004: Alberta declares itself debt-free
Seniors Minister Stan Woloshyn, who isn't running in the next election, says he was glad to have the fees eliminated before he leaves office.
Critics have accused the government of buying votes in an election expected to be called as early as this fall.
"It's just so cynical that it's just rather insulting, I think, to the intelligence of seniors," Brian Mason, leader of the New Democrats, said.
Woloshyn says the government is heeding critics who have taken it to task for removing benefits from seniors.
He says the decision has nothing to do with an upcoming election, and says his caucus colleagues simply recognize that seniors live on fixed incomes.
Ron Ellis, president of the 5,000-member Seniors United Now, which formed to pressure the government to restore benefits taken away in the 1990s, says seniors are angry.
"I don't think this by itself is going to change their minds to any great degree," Ellis said.
He says seniors are still worse off than before Klein took office.
Health-care premiums have been a hot topic in other parts of the country. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced a premium in Ontario shortly after winning an election in which he vowed not to raise taxes.
Good on ya Ralph - naturally the lefties see this as vote buying - seems to me these older folk should be entitled to a little something in their dwindling days of higher medical needs.
seebeesee
Rev_Blair @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:41 pm
karra @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:48 pm
Geez _blah, you've turned into a stalker.
You're creepy - a backstabber label is bad enough, but you're creepy.
e.e.ewww and ick!
Rev_Blair @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:37 pm
Indelible @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:54 pm
$1:
Good on ya Ralph - naturally the lefties see this as vote buying - seems to me these older folk should be entitled to a little something in their dwindling days of higher medical needs
i totally agree that "older folk are entitled to a little something in their.....days of higher medical needs", but you can't tell me that the timing isn't impeccable...
karra @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:02 pm
Okay 
Rev_Blair @ Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:20 pm
It also ignores all of the hospitals that were shut down and social programs that were cut. Ralph could have paid off his debt a few years later but instead he chose to pay it off a little sooner on the backs of those in need. Now he's pandering for votes under the weight of a population that's getting older.
WestieLee @ Mon Aug 16, 2004 2:41 pm
I originally came from BC so when I came to Alberta, everything seemed a little different. One thing that definately needs to be improved is the health care over here. Senior care as well is something that needs attention that's for sure.
My fiance has been having problems because of the government here in Alberta due to the aboriginal funding for programs and services has been cut here and there. Native organizations are working on the bare minimum for programs and services to provide urban abroginals and natives that live on their reserves. He had to quit his job because there was no more funding to provide for the programs that he took part in.
He was telling me that he actually met Ralph Klein in Lac La Biche face to face. They shook hands and they talked a bit and so on. My fiance and myself do not support ralph klein and feel that he should be removed from office as soon as possible. It was pretty funny that last year he was pied in the face. i thought that was hilarious. Maybe something like that should be done again.
lets fix alberta by getting rid of ralph klein!
True-North @ Sat Nov 27, 2004 1:09 am
Yea life in Alberta is just fine, unless you're a whiny victim that sees any bad in everything.
Cancon @ Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:51 pm
As an Ontarian, I'd like to see wheels put on the West Edmonton Mall so that it can be driven to economically distraught areas throughout Canada....sorry! Back to your regularly scheduled program.
SprCForr @ Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:24 am
Life is not as peachy keen as we would like it anywhere. As for the timing of announcements etc, of course the ruling party is going to take advantage of it. Every single party out there would do the same. They would be stupid not to. The bottom line is something is being done. Everyone wants government cash for their pet program. Where does it end? Health and Education are a big priority, understandably so, as is things like Infrastructure. Provincial funding of ambulance services are easing the burden of municipalities. So what gets cut so those programs get a bigger slice? If you can't offer a reasonable solution then you're just whining. I believe it was better to get the debt paid off faster and spend the money that was servicing the debt interest somewhere else. It's like life for most of us who don't make a billion dollars a year when starting out, starve now(paying off the debts, starting at the bottom, etc) and get the gravy later. My suggestion? Use the surplus funds to remove the user fees out there. The funding level doesn't change for existing programs and it lets me keep some of my money.
"...He had to quit his job because there was no more funding to provide for the programs that he took part in..."
No other work available? Thats a tough one to swallow. I live 2 hrs south of you and there are more jobs than people to fill them around here. Employers can't pay minimum wage and expect people to fill the position. They have to pay more to attract them. Even the traditional entry level positions are paying more than min wage.
Ralph is retiring. Like him or not he at least does what he says he's going to do. Bring on Jim Dinning!
Richard @ Wed Feb 16, 2005 1:45 pm
Right on!
Like it or not he was given a mandate and thru hell and high water he did whaat was needed to be done. Even without the oil boom he would have made his plan work.
A politition with some balls I never thought I would see the day.
fred22 @ Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:17 pm
Hi folks,
Self reliance is a good thing. As a small businessman I have nobody to blame for success or failure except myself. I also belive Ralph Klein is a simplistic asshole and mouthpiece for big business. He solved the debt problem by making war on the poor and defenceless combined with a great price per barrel. Whether it be harangueing the homeless in a drunken stupor or underpaying teachers he never ceases to amaze me.
Health care could be a lot better in this province. If I wanted pay as you go I would live in the states. On top of paying high taxes I get a health care premium for services that are poorly funded. Howver he always has money for his buddies
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national ... 50216.html
!80,000 for six months work? Must be nice. Also it amazes me that my kids have to share textbooks with other and the text book refers to the 80's as the future. I do not beleive in a welfare state that promotes able bodies getting paid for sitting on their ass but the old should not be eating alpo and children should not have to wait for prosthetic limbs while Ralph the arrogant rummie feeds his buddys the bucks.
Cheers
fred
Mustang1 @ Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:10 pm
Fred,
Having just endured two terms of Harris’ brand of neo-conservative ideology here in Ontario and the mess left in its wake, I can certainly empathize. I am so sick of these petty, dogmatic and confrontational ideologues and their cruel, nasty outlook on the progressive and humanitarian components of the modern welfare state that I could puke.
Harris’ particular strategy of tax-cuts (money siphoned from social programs and then subsequently downloading the program onto the backs of municipalities) questionable land deals (which reeked of partisan politics) education mismanagement (all levels) and public infrastructure sales (407?) put Ontario in a deplorable state – both socially and economically. Harris, and Klein, sought to readdress social/political ills by dogmatically pursuing a philosophical worldview (I love how people applaud doctrinaire when it really means inflexible) despite the fact that it didn’t necessarily mean that the province would benefit from it (your textbook issues and the disastrous charter schools).
Right-wing economics, coupled with confrontational tactics spelled calamity in Ontario – don’t believe me? Ask Ernie Eves.
m1.
fred22 @ Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:38 pm
Hi Mustang,
I just can't understand why it has to be starving the old or handing money out like drunken sailors in a brothel. Common sence seems to be gone.
Cheers
fred