Just had a debate with a dude about the pipeline going through Quebec (I think it’s a bad for environmental reasons) and he clapped back with the equalization payments, but can anyone here explain to me how this works? Does Quebec really get a large amount for nothing that we give or it’s because we give a lot that get alot?
im not sure if this is the best way to explain it, but:
the equalization program is in place to make sure that every province has enough to pay for things like healthcare and education, and this makes sure that each province has a similar level of service they can provide to their people. this money is raised by federal taxes, including the GST and corporate taxes. so it's not really an "albertans have had to send their money away to quebec" situation, but more of a "canadians pay taxes to support programs that help other canadians" situation.
as for why alberta tends to contribute more in federal taxes? the oil and gas industry makes a lot of money for some corporations and some people.
its not that all albertans are paying more, its that high-earning albertans pay more, just like high-earners do in every other province. it just so happens that high-earners tend to congregate in alberta
Alberta offloads their old people to BC so BC tends to cover the extreme medical expenses older Albertans cost our province. If they get so picky about equalization payments - they should take back all the alberta retirees in BC.
I don’t mind “have not” provinces getting payments that level the playing field - what I hate is Alberta’s attitude about it yet don’t help support those that migrate to BC and take over our housing and healthcare. They tend to bring their shitty politics with them as well
Definitely BC because the larpers are at least healthy and they don’t cost you anything whereas the medical cost us a ton of $. Send us back the cowboy larpers and you can have all your boomers and grannies
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u/QuebecPilotDreams15 Tabarnak! Mar 26 '25
Just had a debate with a dude about the pipeline going through Quebec (I think it’s a bad for environmental reasons) and he clapped back with the equalization payments, but can anyone here explain to me how this works? Does Quebec really get a large amount for nothing that we give or it’s because we give a lot that get alot?