2013 Health Spending Accounts ltr from FOIP Exec Council
2013 Health Spending Accounts ltr from FOIP Exec Council
The Alberta Federation of Labour filed requests for all documents on health spending accounts, dedicated taxes for health care services or other forms of alternative health care payment. Although these requests have uncovered that there are 26 pages dealing with health care taxes, the request was denied because of Alberta’s opaque and regressive Freedom of Information legislation.
2013 Treasury Answer to HC FOIP
2013 Treasury Answer to HC FOIP
The Alberta Federation of Labour filed requests for all documents on health spending accounts, dedicated taxes for health care services or other forms of alternative health care payment. Although these requests have uncovered that there are 26 pages dealing with health care taxes, the request was denied because of Alberta’s opaque and regressive Freedom of Information legislation.
The Finance and Treasury Board denied the request outright. In their rejection letter, the officials said the records “are being withheld in their entirety” because they are advice to officials.
Bitumen glut has silver lining
Bitumen glut has silver lining (January 30, 2013)
The bitumen glut has a silver lining: Seizing Alberta's upgrading opportunity and creating long-term prosperity.
The low price of bitumen has a silver lining: a low price means upgrading oil sands here in Alberta makes good economic sense.
Upgrading accomplishes all our goals: more jobs for Albertans, better prices for our oil sands products, and a more reasonable pace of oil sands development.
We have an opportunity to build a diversified and sustainable economy, so let's seize it.
China's Gas Tank
China’s Gas Tank
Three Steps Toward Selling Out Canadian Energy Security
December 17, 2012
Chinese-Canadian business relations are being redefined, as we cede decision-making power about our natural resources to state-owned foreign businesses. These businesses are not bound by market pressures and will not act in the best interests of Canadians.
The economic relationship between Canada and China is being redefined.
Over the past year, three major events have dominated the headlines on Canadian business pages. These stories are each part of a larger picture in which Canada’s national interests are being subverted, and the country’s strategic energy assets are being taken over. From exploration and production to transportation and marketing, control of the oil sands is being ceded to state-owned foreign companies.
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) takeover of Nexen gives a Chinese state-owned oil company marketing control over several hundred thousand barrels per day of oil sands bitumen. Marketing control gives CNOOC power over the price – which means we are handing over control of Alberta’s most important source of royalty revenue to a state-owned enterprise.
At the behest of funding partners that are backed by Chinese state-owned oil companies, the Northern Gateway Pipeline locks in a future where Alberta’s resources leave the country in their rawest form possible. This will ship good paying jobs to China.