|
Total |
Per
Capita |
1961 |
-470 |
-353 |
1962 |
-380 |
-278 |
1963 |
-316 |
-225 |
1964 |
-253 |
-178 |
1965 |
-229 |
-158 |
1966 |
243 |
166 |
1967 |
396 |
266 |
1968 |
718 |
472 |
1969 |
895 |
574 |
1970 |
762 |
478 |
1971 |
660 |
401 |
1972 |
889 |
526 |
1973 |
2,229 |
1,294 |
1974 |
11,260 |
6,424 |
1975 |
10,479 |
5,812 |
1976 |
8,853 |
4,751 |
1977 |
9,176 |
4,729 |
1978 |
7,795 |
3,869 |
1979 |
13,745 |
6,578 |
1980 |
25,409 |
11,641 |
1981 |
29,089 |
12,735 |
1982 |
20,200 |
8,563 |
1983 |
9,368 |
3,924 |
1984 |
7,008 |
2,933 |
1985 |
5,501 |
2,292 |
1986 |
1,648 |
680 |
1987 |
1,418 |
583 |
1988 |
1,365 |
557 |
1989 |
1,450 |
582 |
1990 |
2,185 |
860 |
1991 |
1,502 |
581 |
1992 |
1,369 |
521 |
1993 |
2,330 |
875 |
1994 |
3,075 |
1,140 |
1995 |
3,406 |
1,248 |
1996 |
4,994 |
1,803 |
1997 |
7,263 |
2,573 |
1998 |
8,653 |
2,996 |
1999 |
8,747 |
2,969 |
2000 |
10,561 |
3,524 |
2001 |
10,244 |
3,358 |
2002 |
10,317 |
3,319 |
Total |
243,554 |
105,405 |
|
Mansell and Schlenker's 2005 update employs a
slightly different methodology when compared to their seminal 1992
study. The numbers are also in 2004 dollars, as opposed to 1990 dollars
(we converted the totals to 2003 dollars). These are the reasons why
the two tables are not consistent with each other.
However, they essentially tell the same story: Albertans pay tons of
cash to Ottawa and get nothing in return.
An interesting addition is the calculation of per capita amounts. This
is particularly interesting when one considers how rapidly Alberta's
population has grown. If one simply takes the totals of $243 billion
and divides by Alberta's population of roughly 3.2 million people, one
would be severely understating the damage to your average Albertan. The average Albertan has
contributed $105,405 since 1961 without getting anything in return.
This calculation is not the total amount
paid, with us then employing metaphors regarding Ottawa's programs
towards
Albertans as sweet nothings. This number represents the difference
between taxes and
other moneys paid less the value of goods and services returned. And
that difference represents paying for nothing.
Keep in mind that this represents the per capita amount. If we would
consider a family over an 18 year span, that could be as much as $315,228 per Albertan family of
four. The average house price in Calgary (at
least for the time being) is less than that.
When you see families emigrating from Canada to take employment
elsewhere so that they can increase their family's income by $10,000,
what do you suppose they might think about Alberta remaining under
Canada's control when they lose roughly $14,000 a year?*
* - for a family of four
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