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You ####ers! what new stuff are you gonna buy?
http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=e12823b3-b236-4be5-8c48-d90bafd01aff&page=2
Virtually all Albertans to get $400 tax-free rebate cheque in January
John Cotter
Canadian Press
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
1 | 2 | NEXT >>
Alberta's Finance Minister Shirley McClellan, in this recent file photo. (CP Archive/Chuck Stoody)
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EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta is so flush with cash people in the province will enjoy two gift celebrations this winter. In January when most Canadians are watching their mailboxes in dread for post-holiday season bills, most Albertans will be waiting for a $400 tax-free resource rebate cheque from the province.
The cheques are the Klein government's solution to a projected $6.8 billion budget surplus bloated by high oil and natural gas prices. Some predict the surplus will swell even higher.
Finance Minister Shirley McClellan said that after years of belt-tightening in the 1990s, Albertans shouldn't feel guilty when they cash the windfall cheques.
"They should be very proud for the efforts they made in supporting the premier and his caucus of making the tough decisions to get our fiscal house in order," McClellan said Tuesday.
"Albertans are reaping the rewards of the decisions that they stood behind a dozen years ago."
McClellan said other provinces could offer budget rebates once their finances improve.
She said other governments don't begrudge Albertans their windfall because they appreciate that they benefit indirectly from Alberta's wealth through federal equalization payments.
"They realize they share very much in our strength." The rebate cheques are expected to cost about $1.4 billion, including $10 million to administer. The rest of the projected surplus is earmarked for infrastructure projects and savings programs such as the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, and other endowment funds.
To receive the rebate, you must have been an Alberta resident on Sept. 1, 2005 and have filed a 2004 Canada tax return.
Every eligible Albertan will get a payment except prison inmates.
Even homeless people are entitled to a cheque. The province says it will work with inner city agencies to figure out how to distribute the money to people with no fixed address.
Some Albertans have complained the money would be better spent building more schools or eliminating health-care premiums - a levy that costs families $1,056 a year.
Recent polls, including a Canada West Foundation survey released Tuesday, suggest that only about half of Albertans support the government's bonus cheque plan.
The others say the cash should go to bolster programs or be saved for the future.
McClellan said while there are some naysayers, most people are looking forward to the money.
"The calls to our government (phone) lines are about nine-to-one in favour of them," she said.
"There are some who say 'I don't need it. Don't send it to me.' I say better yet, how about you commit it to something you care about - your local food bank, Red Cross, Cancer society, homeless shelter."
To drive the message home the government is spending $65,000 on newspaper ads to promote the rebate cheques.
..Continued
Alberta's two main opposition parties were both critical of the program Tuesday, but not enough to say it should be scrapped.
New Democrat Leader Brian Mason said the rebates show the government has no long-term plan for budget surpluses. But he also said many people need the cash now.
"I'm not happy about it because I think it represents a failure of government to plan," said Mason.
"But people are desperate and there are people, including many of my constituents, who need any kind of relief. I am not going to stand between them and these $400 cheques."
Liberal finance critic Rick Miller scoffed at the rebates, saying that some people will use the money to buy I-Pods.
McClellan said while the rebate cheques are a one-time program, the province will consider doing it again if faced with similar budget surpluses.
Alberta also plans to shield homeowners from high home heating costs from the beginning of October until the end of March. That program is expected to cost up to $390 million.
The federal government last week announced it will divide future unplanned budget surpluses into three parts - debt reduction, tax cuts and new spending.
The federal Liberals are also planning some home heating relief, but it will be limited to people on low incomes.
http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=e12823b3-b236-4be5-8c48-d90bafd01aff&page=2
Virtually all Albertans to get $400 tax-free rebate cheque in January
John Cotter
Canadian Press
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
1 | 2 | NEXT >>
Alberta's Finance Minister Shirley McClellan, in this recent file photo. (CP Archive/Chuck Stoody)
ADVERTISEMENT
Click Here
EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta is so flush with cash people in the province will enjoy two gift celebrations this winter. In January when most Canadians are watching their mailboxes in dread for post-holiday season bills, most Albertans will be waiting for a $400 tax-free resource rebate cheque from the province.
The cheques are the Klein government's solution to a projected $6.8 billion budget surplus bloated by high oil and natural gas prices. Some predict the surplus will swell even higher.
Finance Minister Shirley McClellan said that after years of belt-tightening in the 1990s, Albertans shouldn't feel guilty when they cash the windfall cheques.
"They should be very proud for the efforts they made in supporting the premier and his caucus of making the tough decisions to get our fiscal house in order," McClellan said Tuesday.
"Albertans are reaping the rewards of the decisions that they stood behind a dozen years ago."
McClellan said other provinces could offer budget rebates once their finances improve.
She said other governments don't begrudge Albertans their windfall because they appreciate that they benefit indirectly from Alberta's wealth through federal equalization payments.
"They realize they share very much in our strength." The rebate cheques are expected to cost about $1.4 billion, including $10 million to administer. The rest of the projected surplus is earmarked for infrastructure projects and savings programs such as the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, and other endowment funds.
To receive the rebate, you must have been an Alberta resident on Sept. 1, 2005 and have filed a 2004 Canada tax return.
Every eligible Albertan will get a payment except prison inmates.
Even homeless people are entitled to a cheque. The province says it will work with inner city agencies to figure out how to distribute the money to people with no fixed address.
Some Albertans have complained the money would be better spent building more schools or eliminating health-care premiums - a levy that costs families $1,056 a year.
Recent polls, including a Canada West Foundation survey released Tuesday, suggest that only about half of Albertans support the government's bonus cheque plan.
The others say the cash should go to bolster programs or be saved for the future.
McClellan said while there are some naysayers, most people are looking forward to the money.
"The calls to our government (phone) lines are about nine-to-one in favour of them," she said.
"There are some who say 'I don't need it. Don't send it to me.' I say better yet, how about you commit it to something you care about - your local food bank, Red Cross, Cancer society, homeless shelter."
To drive the message home the government is spending $65,000 on newspaper ads to promote the rebate cheques.
..Continued
Alberta's two main opposition parties were both critical of the program Tuesday, but not enough to say it should be scrapped.
New Democrat Leader Brian Mason said the rebates show the government has no long-term plan for budget surpluses. But he also said many people need the cash now.
"I'm not happy about it because I think it represents a failure of government to plan," said Mason.
"But people are desperate and there are people, including many of my constituents, who need any kind of relief. I am not going to stand between them and these $400 cheques."
Liberal finance critic Rick Miller scoffed at the rebates, saying that some people will use the money to buy I-Pods.
McClellan said while the rebate cheques are a one-time program, the province will consider doing it again if faced with similar budget surpluses.
Alberta also plans to shield homeowners from high home heating costs from the beginning of October until the end of March. That program is expected to cost up to $390 million.
The federal government last week announced it will divide future unplanned budget surpluses into three parts - debt reduction, tax cuts and new spending.
The federal Liberals are also planning some home heating relief, but it will be limited to people on low incomes.
