Jonathan Williams did a post on April 12 that creates a false impression. He was commenting on the Premiers' equalization conference in Montreal, and was generally critical of how the Conservative premiers seemed to have their "hands out wanting more." He cited this story from Yahoo News in support of his post. In the Yahoo News story, no comments appeared from Premier Ralph Klein, so Jonathan Williams jumped on the omission and blasted the Premier:
Now interestingly this report did not included a single point from our Premier. So are you telling me we had nothing to say?
Well, there are two possible reasons why no quote from Klein appeared in the story. The first reason would be that Klein was interviewed, and "had nothing to say". The second reason is that the reporter, Joan Bryden, may have decided not to include a quote from Klein. If Jonathan Williams would have done a simple check of Google News, he would have discovered that Klein had plenty to say on equalization, and his name appeared in many articles on equalization on April 11 and 12. Here are just a few examples:
"Provinces oil revenue defended by Klein", Calgary Sun, April 12
"No consensus from premiers on how to fix fiscal imbalance", National Post, April 12"On natural resources, we're very concerned," Alberta Premier Ralph Klein told a news conference along with his counterparts after meeting with them to discuss the issue.
"You might say we're opposed to the inclusion of resource revenue in the report."
Alberta's Ralph Klein, meanwhile, had no problem boosting equalization payments, even though his province, along with Saskatchewan and Ontario, doesn't benefit. But, while Alberta is "a sharing province,'' Klein said he's opposed to the formula recommended by the panel for calculating equalization."Solving fiscal imbalance won't be easy: premiers", CTV News, April 12
"Premiers divided over changes to payments", CBC News, April 12The proposed change would boost equalization payments to $15.1 billion a year from the current $9.4 billion.
At present, payments are based on a five-province standard, which excludes oil-rich Alberta.
The suggestion raised the hackles of Premiers Ralph Klein of Alberta and Lorne Calvert of Saskatchewan.
Klein said resource revenues are very volatile, adding, "The only thing I can tell you is what goes up, must come down," referring to when price slumps in the 1980s and 1990s hurt Alberta's economy. ...
... Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, meanwhile, said he had no problem boosting equalization payments. But he added that he's opposed to the formula recommended by the panel for calculating equalization.
Klein has also rejected the recommendation to add the province's revenue to the calculation which would add $5.3 billion to the fund.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, who chaired Tuesday's meeting in Montreal, is concerned the report recommends including resource revenue in the calculations. "It was included at one time, it was removed in 1982," says Klein. "We're very concerned and, you might say, we're opposed to the inclusion of resource revenue in the report. But that's a matter that needs to be discussed down the road. " Currently, equalization payments are based on a five-province standard, excluding oil-rich Alberta."Alberta's oil riches bubble to the surface", Globe and Mail, April 12
Alberta's vast mineral riches figured prominently in the talks after a blue-chip panel's report, unveiled yesterday, recommended that the formula for calculating equalization payments to less-prosperous regions include revenue from the province's booming oil and gas industry.
The panel, headed by Janice Stein of the University of Toronto and Robert Gagné of the University of Montreal, jumped into a debate that has simmered quietly for months in provincial capitals about Alberta's emergence as a provincial superpower. Last summer, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty described it as "the elephant in the room" no one wanted to discuss.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein made it clear that he does not support any move to include the province's resource revenues in the calculation for payments under the national equalization program -- a position that put him at odds with most recipients of the program.
"We're very concerned, and you might say we're opposed," he said at a news conference after the meeting.
Although Alberta might be reaping the benefits of high oil prices today, Mr. Klein said, the good times won't last forever.
"The only thing I can tell you is that what goes up must come down. So while the price is high now, it might come crashing down."
"No consensus from premiers on how to resolve fiscal imbalance", Macleans, April 11
Alberta's Ralph Klein, meanwhile, had no problem boosting equalization payments, even though his province, along with Saskatchewan and Ontario, doesn't benefit. But, while Alberta is "a sharing province," Klein said he's opposed to the formula recommended by the panel for calculating equalization. ...
... Currently, equalization payments are based on a five-province standard, excluding oil-rich Alberta.
Ottawa gives equalization to poorer provinces to enable them to provide services at taxation levels comparable to those of the rich provinces.
Klein likened the panel's proposal to the hated National Energy Program of the early 1980s, which siphoned off the province's oil wealth. He said it wouldn't be fair to include resource revenue in the equalization calculation since resource prices are so volatile.
"The only thing I can tell you is what goes up, must come down," he said, recalling the devastation wrought on Alberta's economy when oil prices crashed in the 1980s.
All of these stories were online prior to Jonathan Williams' post.
I am no defender of Ralph Klein, but he clearly voiced his opposition to the equalization report loudly and repeatedly. To suggest otherwise is false.
This incident brings to mind a famous quote from Hiram Johnson: "Truth is the first casualty of war". Based on the AAP's latest effort to "blame Ralph", truth is the first casualty in Alberta Alliance communications as well.
