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To be completely fair, it's not "Alberta" transferring that money, it's money paid in tax to the federal government being transferred to have not provinces. It

To be completely fair, it's not "Alberta" transferring that money, it's money paid in tax to the federal government being transferred to have not provinces. It's not an additional tax placed upon us, it just happens that the math works out because we've been lucky to be earning more on average, which I think only makes sense as a Albertan and a Canadian.

soperj 7y ago
Always have wondered, what makes Quebec a have not province?
- aroberge 7y ago
  Short answer: much lower salaries. The average Albertan's salary is (still) much higher than that of workers from other provinces. Thus, each Albertan pays (on average) more federal income tax than workers from other provinces. Whether a province is "have" or "have not" is based on comparing the average federal income tax collected from that province compared with the national average. The equalization payments is the income tax that gets partially redistributed - it is not a transfer from Alberta to other provinces. For a given salary, the average income tax (combined provincial and federal) paid by someone in Quebec (or any other province) is much higher than that paid by someone in Alberta. Add to that the provincial sales tax (not paid by Albertans) ... and you get a situation where people outside of Alberta see Albertans as spoiled rich whiners as they: 1) earn a higher salary and 2) pay less taxes. Meanwhile, Albertans (with their lower unemployment - still today) see "their" money wasted to these undeserving lazy Easterners ("lazy" = collecting money from EI). Politicians of all stripes contribute to fanning the flames. And, in spite of all this, we are generally considered to be a nice bunch, eh?
  - soperj 7y ago
    >For a given salary, the average income tax (combined provincial and federal) paid by someone in Quebec (or any other province) is much higher than that paid by someone in Alberta. Add to that the provincial sales tax (not paid by Albertans) ... and you get a situation where people outside of Alberta see Albertans as spoiled rich whiners as they: 1) earn a higher salary and 2) pay less taxes. People in Quebec also get way more services for that. Like under $10 a day daycare.

soperj 7y ago

Always have wondered, what makes Quebec a have not province?

aroberge 7y ago
Short answer: much lower salaries. The average Albertan's salary is (still) much higher than that of workers from other provinces. Thus, each Albertan pays (on average) more federal income tax than workers from other provinces. Whether a province is "have" or "have not" is based on comparing the average federal income tax collected from that province compared with the national average. The equalization payments is the income tax that gets partially redistributed - it is not a transfer from Alberta to other provinces. For a given salary, the average income tax (combined provincial and federal) paid by someone in Quebec (or any other province) is much higher than that paid by someone in Alberta. Add to that the provincial sales tax (not paid by Albertans) ... and you get a situation where people outside of Alberta see Albertans as spoiled rich whiners as they: 1) earn a higher salary and 2) pay less taxes. Meanwhile, Albertans (with their lower unemployment - still today) see "their" money wasted to these undeserving lazy Easterners ("lazy" = collecting money from EI). Politicians of all stripes contribute to fanning the flames. And, in spite of all this, we are generally considered to be a nice bunch, eh?
- soperj 7y ago
  >For a given salary, the average income tax (combined provincial and federal) paid by someone in Quebec (or any other province) is much higher than that paid by someone in Alberta. Add to that the provincial sales tax (not paid by Albertans) ... and you get a situation where people outside of Alberta see Albertans as spoiled rich whiners as they: 1) earn a higher salary and 2) pay less taxes. People in Quebec also get way more services for that. Like under $10 a day daycare.