Voici un texte publie dans The Globe And Mail du 22 janvier 2010. L’auteur est Ted Morton, le nouveau ministre des finances de l’Alberta:
The Globe implies Alberta’s interest in reforming Canada’s equalization program is only about Alberta (The Buffet Is Over – editorial, Jan. 16).
Not true: While Alberta is the single largest per-capita contributor to Confederation, Ontario contributes just as much in total, yet has fewer doctors, nurses and hospital beds, per capita, than some “have-not” provinces.
But equalization is not just an Alberta and Ontario issue. It is a pan-Canadian issue. It is a contributor to Canada not keeping pace with the productivity increases of other G8 countries. Provinces that receive equalization transfers are less inclined to reduce tax rates because the benefits of that are offset by decreases in equalization. Higher taxes drive out investment and kill jobs. So the tax base shrinks, fiscal capacity declines, and equalization transfers increase. It’s a vicious cycle.
Given that B.C., Saskatchewan and Newfoundland are also now non-receiving equalization provinces, why not put reform on the table for discussion? Why not re-examine how much Ottawa collects and the whole system of federal transfers?
This isn’t just about how we redistribute income; it’s about economic growth and productivity.
Ted Morton, Minister of Finance and Enterprise, Alberta
Ca promet ! Il veut modifier le systeme de perequation canadien. Beaucoup d’etincelles a prevoir !
January 27th, 2010 at 13:42
Oui ca promet d’etre interessant a suivre le M. Morton !