suburbbilly

Live in burbs of NW Calgary. Supporter of uncommon sense. I like policy, blues, beer and long walks in the park with my dog

[Naheed Nenshi @nenshi]

Over 200,000 Albertans came out and signed a petition saying no coal mining on the Eastern Slopes. Now the Premier says it's too late to put the petition question to a referendum.

For months, the Premier changed the rules for the separatists. Their signatures weren't even validated. The court said their petition was unconstitutional. But the Premier gave her separatist friends their referendum anyway.

But when it comes to coal mining on the Eastern Slopes, suddenly there's all these rules. Suddenly it's too late.

This is hypocrisy.

Alberta's New Democrats have always been clear: no coal mining on the Eastern Slopes.

[Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas @JeromyYYC]

Michelle, that is false.

The City did not change the rules days before Stampede. Operators who ran past midnight last year were told in February that updated conditions would apply. Cowboys was told again in May.

The exemption was conditional. It depended on operators managing noise, safety, and impacts on nearby residents. They did not meet that standard.

We are taking public safety in our downtown seriously. Last year several hundred people brought complaints. People reported property damage, windows shaking, items falling from shelves, music until 2 a.m., disorder, and excessive intoxication spilling into nearby neighbourhoods.

The City still permits concerts until midnight on weeknights, with cool-down music past midnight. Weekend concerts run until 1:30 a.m., with cool-down music until 2 a.m.

No gets a free pass to disturb residents or create unsafe conditions. A great city backs major events and holds operators accountable.

[Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas @JeromyYYC]

Did you know?

The Provincial government has increased their property taxes on Calgarians by 57% over four years, well above inflation and population growth. They're now imposing the largest property tax hike in Calgary's history with a 21% increase, or about $350 for the typical family. This is MORE THAN DOUBLE what they're asking Edmonton to pay.

Meanwhile, our City Council team cares about affordability. We controlled costs, reduced a 5.4% tax increase to 1.6%, and are delivering on safety and core infrastructure investments.

[Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas @JeromyYYC]

The Province has just forced the largest property tax hike in Calgary history. A 21% increase to their share that will hit families, seniors, and renters hard.

I am calling an emergency Special Meeting of Council for 9:30 a.m. on March 4, 2026 to defend Calgary taxpayers and determine immediate next steps.

[DJ Kelly @djkelly]

This is absolutely nuts, Province of Alberta.

[Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas @JeromyYYC]

The provincial government has just imposed the largest property tax increase on Calgarians in history.

In 2026, Alberta is increasing its share of your property tax bill by 21.05%. Nearly 42% of every residential property tax dollar now goes directly to the Province, and the City is legally required to collect this massive tax increase.

For a typical $706,000 home:
🔺 Province: +$339
🔹 City: +$49

We did our work to restrain spending while focusing on safety and core infrastructure. The City’s increase is 1.81%.

The total increase is about $388, with the overwhelming majority driven by the Province.
Check your estimate at https://t.co/JT3t9Aptv3.

[Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪🇲🇩 @acoyne]

You are absolutely allowed to leave Canada. You just can’t take a chunk of it with you.

As for the constitution, it’s true: it’s very hard to change. Too hard. That needs to change — for everybody’s sake. The country needs a better amending formula — one that is based on the consent of the people, not the consent of the premiers.

But whatever formula is chosen, it can never be the case that one part of the country can impose constitutional changes on the rest of the country merely by voting on it — or legislating it. It’s wrong, and unconstitutional, when the government of Quebec does it, or purports to. And it’s just as wrong when the government of Alberta does it. Or purports to. Constitutional change, of any kind, can only be the result of a broad consensus across the country. That’s especially true of the kind of constitutional change that would be required to break up the country.

A final point, which has been made a thousand times, but it seems needs to be made a thousand more: equalization is not unfair to Alberta. It’s a screwed-up, dysfunctional, politicized program that doesn’t actually equalize. But it’s not paid for by Alberta, and it’s not an interprovincial revenue-sharing program. It’s a federal spending program paid for by federal taxpayers. Even as federal taxpayers, Albertan’s don’t pay into it disproportionately. They face exactly the same schedule of tax rates as taxpayers in the rest of the country. The people who pay disproportionately for it are richer people. They’re supposed to: that’s how a progressive income tax works. All these feverish calculations of how much more Albertans pay into the federal treasury than other Canadians are only a statement of how much richer Albertans are, on average, than other Canadians — a blessing, and a burden, they have in common with Canadians in, for example, midtown Toronto, who also pay “disproportionately” for equalization and other federal programs, only without the same vast industry devoted to showing how hard done by they are.
The only way in which you could say that equalization treats Alberta “differently” than other provinces is that its government does not qualify, and has never qualified, for equalization payments. But that’s not discrimination either — there’s no law that says “Alberta shall not be eligible for equalization payments.” The reason it does not receive equalization is because it is, by far, the richest province in the country, with by far the highest per capita revenues — even without a provincial sales tax. Equalization is messed up enough, but an equalization program that paid out to the richest province in the federation would be completely insane.
Maybe we shouldn’t have a progressive income tax. Maybe we shouldn’t have an equalization program. I happen to think we need both, albeit in substantially modified form, but those are legitimate questions for debate. What’s not legitimate is pretending that equalization is some kind of scam against Alberta. What’s even less legitimate is pretending you can abolish or reform a federal program by a referendum in one province. And what’s least legitimate of all is invoking the failure of that non-solution to a non-problem as justification for the constitutional nonsense of secession — which, to repeat, is the proposition that you can not only leave Canada, but take a piece of it with you.

[Robyn Urback @RobynUrback]

The frame-by-frame stuff doesn’t matter.

Millions of Americans, who defended the second amendment all of two minutes ago, will say this killing was justified because the man had a gun. They will say it’s ok a deranged militia is executing people, because their president said so

[Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪🇲🇩 @acoyne]

Watch the video. This is an execution.

[rick bell @RickBellwrites]

LATEST COLUMN. Where I was yesterday. Premier Smith, I was just an emergency room patient — they need your help https://t.co/GFpzcVPwc0 via @calgaryherald #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #yyc #Healthcare

[LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory]

ICE disappeared woman from Utah airport—a mother of 4 legally in U.S. with work permit.

"I have my papers!" she cries out. "Help me please, my papers!"

Other travelers just stand by watching as agents drag her away—despite the kidnappers not wearing uniforms or ID of any kind.

One woman does yell out, "She's a human being!"

The incident occurred at the airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. #DemsUnited

[LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory]

Woman still in jail after brutally arrested at ICE protest—for playing "Ghostbusters" on clarinet.

She was mysteriously transported to jail across state lines—husband not told until 9 hours later.

"We can't even see her... Our 3-year-old has no idea when we'll see mommy again."

Agent was caught on video violently tackling her down into the muddy ground—as 2 more agents join in and knock her clarinet out of her hands.

"Why are they targeting a clarinet player? A clarinet player standing on the sidewalk far away from the street, following instructions?"

Oriana Korol was arrested in Portland—but is still being held without bail at the Clark County Jail in Vancouver, Washington. #DemsUnited

[Matt Welch @MattWelch]

We have become a “Papers, please” country just in time for our 250th anniversary.

[CTV News Calgary @CTVCalgary]

Authorities to crack down on noisy vehicles in Calgary https://t.co/umHTgm4SVO

[Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas @JeromyYYC]

A city that connects is a city that thrives.

Calgary can be a city where greenspace is everywhere, where shade under trees is easy to find. Where every neighbourhood has its community hub for picnics, gatherings and community gardens.

https://t.co/fxHl9KDEw0

#yyccc 1/3

[Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪🇲🇩 @acoyne]

You have the right to leave Canada if you wish. You don’t have the right to take a piece of it with you.

[Raphael Glucksmann @rglucks1]

Dear Americans,

Since the White House press secretary is attacking me today, I wanted to tell you this ⤵️

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

Wrong, Elon. Social Security has paid every benefit owed to every eligible American for 86 years. We can make it solvent for the next 75 years and expand benefits by scrapping the cap that allows billionaires like you to pay the same amount into Social Security as a truck driver.

[Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪🇲🇩 @acoyne]

Boo hoo hoo. You're free to support a man who is attacking the country you were born in — and threatening its very existence — but don't expect everyone else to cheer.

[Stephen Maher @stphnmaher]

100,000 dead Canadians in two world wars and the British can't find the gumption to say that Canada is and will remain an independent country. Bastards.