More accurately, the Fraser Institute got it right in 2004.
Posted at 2007-03-09 15:24:29 [PermaLink]Harper is using the money to buy votes, and hopefully seats, in Quebec. Go Steve go!
Posted at 2007-03-09 22:31:19 [PermaLink]One big factor that doesn't seem taken into account is the financial benefit of having Parliament, the Senate etc located in your Province. I'm sure any province would be more than happy to recompense Ontario the pure Federal spending on simply running parliament if it were to be moved to them. For that reason amongst others, this analysis truly doesn't show the entire financial picture of the Feds versus the Provinces.
Posted at 2007-03-10 00:23:33 [PermaLink]Nice to see B.C. being recognized (not) for being a 'net contributor'...
Posted at 2007-03-10 00:29:45 [PermaLink]I think we're being a bit too hard on Quebec.
After all, were it not for "la belle province" we'd all be up a creek without a poutine.
And by "La Belle Province", I mean that local chain of fast-food restaurants churning out steames and smoked meat sandwiches, that in and of itself justifies maintaining Quebec!
Mmm...time for a pot of francophone cholesterol, a juicy frites-sauce!
Such a rolly-polly place this is.....
I'm pretty sure the author didn't take into account the EI overpayments transferred from AB to other provinces, or the $400+ subsidy in below market power rates that Quebec gives to it citizens while still getting equalization. 9 billion is a very low-ball figure for AB's contribution.
Posted at 2007-03-10 21:11:05 [PermaLink]Sorry, the money evidently goes to Quebec and, to a lesser extent, the Atlantic provinces. You are aware that Quebec has 70 times as many people as PEI and 10 times as many as New Brunswick, so take the per capita figures and do the math.
Posted at 2007-03-12 12:26:22 [PermaLink]