There are several articles out right now spouting this same nonsense regarding the “cut of $36 billion in transfer payments”! This is simply untrue; the rate of annual increases is being decreased from the current 6% to the rate of the increase in the nominal GDP (or a minimum of 3%) in 2017. Again this not a cut, it is a potential slowing of the increases. One can argue whether or not the new formula is appropriate, but the blatant misinformation being spread, most often by public sector unions, is completely untrue.

Ohhh wowwwww all 13 union members protesting…. Good for you…

SMK, you did note my cynicism in an earlier post, haha!

Hopefully the Union Members at the rally are busy moving about and marching around! Moving about and marching around are both great exercises and are part of a healthy lifestyle, which ultimately results in a reduced demand on our overburdened healthcare system and our tax dollars!

“the rate of annual increases is being decreased from the current 6% to the rate of the increase in the nominal GDP (or a minimum of 3%)”

If that decrease is not a cut, then what is it?

SMK, a true loyal harper minion..

there used to be a transfer of 6%, now its down to 3%… but thats not a cut..because in harpers and smks eyes 6=3 giving less is a CUT ..

lets cut what we pay healthcare so we can increase war mongering.

The feds are off loading on to Province end result less service and cost more. We pay more than our share to the federal government and they redirect to areas that have no benefit to working people just keep adding to the coffers of corporate welfare bums

Absolutely untrue. Health care transfers at an all time high $40 billion and we have increased 6% per year since 2006. Not sure how 6% per year increase is a cut.

Further the ongoing increase is a min of 3%…thats still a min increase of 3% and further increase over 3 based on gdp. If we dont potentially healthcare would be 100% of revenue and that would mean no $$ for anything or anyone else.

What’s in a name. Good morning Joe, yesterday you made $20.00 an hour, today you make $19.00 an hour – that’s a cut.

Good morning Joe. When you were hired, we planned on giving you a 6% raise, but, things aren’t going so well, so we’re only giving you a 3% raise – doesn’t sound like a cut to me, sounds like a a small raise than expected.

And Hart Guy – good job. I know you looked at the picture, and I know the comment you wanted to make, but you said it in such a P.C. way, I still got it.

But Mr. Zimmer, – first, takes some guts to post here – this is a tough crowd.

So if that really is you, can you explain why we do spend money on foreign donations, grants, relief, when we’re in debt. Seems odd I would take out say $2,000.00 on my line of credit to give to charity, especially if I expected my kid to pay it back.

Why don’t we ask the people that you are borrowing the money from, to make the donation, because clearly they have an abundance, whereas, we appear to be struggling to fund our healthcare and education systems.

We need to reduce the size of the civil service; it’s not a sustainable system in it’s current form. Let’s reduce it by 20%, reinstated the 40 hour work week and cut back on the number of sick days our civil “servants” now have and put the savings back into our social programs. It’s time we stopped making the public service a dream job.

I hear you (foreign donations etc) Canada and Canadians have always helped out other countries when in need whether through military support (WW1 and beyond to present day)or foreign aid.
We have tried to balance healthcare increases etc etc etc with our international presence. Not easy.
Lastly, a 6% increase to post 2017 will likely continue after that but we have put in 3% with gdp being a deciding factor cause ultimately money does appear out of thin air. Again if we dont back stop the INCREASES on something we go into deficit again and add to our debt.

And it is really me..Bob Zimmer.

axman, I agree 100%

Last week I posted a link to a recently released report from the CFIB. The report discusses wages in the public sector vs. the private sector:

http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/article/6069-government-wages.html

I have been steadfast in my conviction that we have too much government (at all levels) and it’s costing us far too much!

We could slash public sector wages by 10% across the board, freeing up billions of dollars for healthcare, education and other social services AND our public sector workers would still be paid more than comparable private sector workers!!

I don’t think the issue is whether or not funding is being “cut”, the issue is whether there is enough money in the system to adequately provide the health care services that people need.

Maybe a 3% increase in funding is adequate, maybe it’s more that adequate or maybe it’s only 25% of what is needed. We can’t just look at static numbers, we have to look at the funding gap. What does the system need and are we funding it at that level? If not, why? Are we spending money on things that could be re-directed to health care? What are the options?

I recognize at least 2 former candidates for the NDP party in the photo. Although I know that that’s not surprising, given that the NDP supports union in theory, it still makes me wonder why now for the rally.

So zimmer… your party thinks that our healthcare is the same as our war mongering in other countries..”We have tried to balance healthcare increases etc etc etc with our international presence. ” that remark disgusts me…and anyone on a waiting list for healthcare. As long as we send our soldiers and 10 of millions of dollars etc to some foreign country so they can kill each other and our soldiers.. why should canadians get more for healthcare..we have more pressing issues in foreign countries.. how can you and your fellow party members even think you are out for our welfare..

Please explain the wasting 24 million dollars in advertising in the USA for canadian oil for companies that make BILLIONS..

“Good morning Joe. When you were hired, we planned on giving you a 6% raise, but, things aren’t going so well, so we’re only giving you a 3% raise – doesn’t sound like a cut to me, sounds like a a small raise than expected. ”

It is, in fact, a cut to the amount of the raise.

“Health care transfers at an all time high $40 billion ”

Of course! Why would anyone expect any different? Our population increases all the time and our money loses value through inflation all the time. Just because the dollar amount is higher does not mean the purchasing power per covered individual has increased. It may, in fact, have decreased.

“Further the ongoing increase is a min of 3%…thats still a min increase of 3% and further increase over 3 based on gdp. ”

However, it should have been 6% and was cut to 3%. That is a cut of 3%. No matter how you slice it, less money is being provided than would have been provided if funding had been left alone and not been changed.

“If we dont potentially healthcare would be 100% of revenue and that would mean no $$ for anything or anyone else.”

Absolute claptrap. MP’s salaries and pensions alone would make sure that never happened.

Ammonra, absolute claptrap? MP’s salaries and pensions alone would make sure that never happens?

I’m not defending MP’ salaries and pensions as they are just a very small drop in the bucket, but how about our public sector as a whole??

You wouldn’t be a public sector worker or retiree by chance, would you??

Ammonra, let’s use the $40 billion number referenced earlier as the starting point:

An annual increase of 6% would bring the health transfer to $42.4 billion.

An annual increase of 3% would bring the health transfer to $41.2 billion.

Both are INCREASES in funding, although one is less of an increase than the other. People are free to argue whether or not this change in policy is the right direction to go; however to suggest there has been a cut in funding is just plain wrong.

i just love the spin doctoring…and why do we hate politicians.lol

We used to increase funding by 6%. But now we are CUTTING the increase to 3% but it’s not cutting..lol. It giving less than expected.,but that’s not a cut.. Did you expect 42.4 billion..well it’s only 41.2 billion..but it’s not a cut..lol

Yep..politicians are a special breed..that should be made never able to procreate.

Just think about the hours that steve is putting on those F-18s . That’s how one uses something up . The more hours ,the faster you go , the higher you fly , the faster you use them up . Then what ? Well the obligation to nato kind of makes that desition for you . So , the cut will buy him a brand ,spanking , new F-35 . Elect him and the next time he jumps out of the closet ,he’ll whip out his brand new F-35 . And for the NRA North division . The UN is here to stay . It will be around long after we’ve been forgotten . You talk about the oceans . Well that takes global commitment . So does human and gun smuggling .

Is there something that says the budget MUST raise health care spending by 6% annually? Giving the community a heads up to a change in the funding model in the budget is a bad thing I suppose.

Trying to figure out where Ataloss is going with the comment. You want Canada to spend more to follow a UN resolution to the tune of billions of dollars (yes the gun registry did cost billions) and create some more laws (we know how everyone wants new laws) so they can stamp a CA on every gun entering Canada and tracking its whereabouts at all times. Gun smugglers will find themselves having to stamp CA on every gun they smuggle in, for shame, how will they cope – oh right – smugglers do not follow any new laws do they?

Take a deep breath ataloss and try again to string together the voices in your head into a coherent post.

Healthcare spending is a bottomless pit. The US spends more on healthcare than anyone else on the planet and ranks quite poorly in national health scores.

The problem is we feel that our health is someone else’s responsibility. The system will fail until each and every person in Canada realizes that their health is ultimately up to them. Instead we point fingers and say we need more access to doctors, drugs and surgery, when infact we need less patients.

The conditions crippling our system are mainly 1) diabetes 2) heart disease 3) cancer. Most of these cases are preventable. Instead of petitioning the Government for more money for more drugs and more surgery we should be demanding they make real changes that will lessen the cost burden and actually make people healthier, not just less sick.

I always see criticism on this site without any real suggestions so here are a few to get the proper discussion started.

1) Implement a tax on the top four worst foods: French Fries, Potato Chips, Donuts and Soda. These food will increase health care costs.

2) Use that tax money to subsidize produce and make both produce and gym memberships tax deductible. Both of these reduce health care costs.

3) Put a $1200 a year surcharge on every smokers MSP premium regardless of income level. I don’t feel I need to defend this one.

4) Have yearly weigh ins. Anyone with normal body fat levels be given a rebate on their MSP premiums the following year. Allow for them to challenge the test at any time if they lose the weight. Provide education on how to obtain and maintain normal body weight. Obesity is very expensive to treat over a lifetime. Don’t penalize those that cannot maintain a normal body weight, instead reward those that can.

Porter, that sounds really good.. But when does the government actually do what they say they will with our tax dollars.. They move money around like crazy to make it look like the budget is balanced.. They take money from ICBC and raise our rates even though the money is supposed to stay in the company.. Same with hydro.. If they taxed foods etc as you suggest that money would just end up in the public coffers for the liberals to waste on bribing big businesses.

Porter, some very good points…but a tax on doughnuts….gasp….d’oh ;) I wholeheartedly agree that, aside from some instances of very real health issues (mental & physical), personal health & well being is entirely a choice. It’s not the Government or my fault that a high percentage of our population chooses to live a very unhealthy lifestyle, yet we are expected to subsidize or outright pay for this. With all the information & help that is offered there is not much of an excuse for our society to be more healthy than we are. Maybe instead of protesting perceived health care cuts, time would be better spent encouraging a healthier way of life. Two birds with one stone, less stress on the system would free up more cash.

“You wouldn’t be a public sector worker or retiree by chance, would you?”

Yes, I would be. Does that make my opinions less valid than yours? Am I a second class, inferior citizen because I worked providing cancer diagnostic services in the laboratory in Prince George? Am I second rate because you don’t like public sector workers being paid properly? That is what your question implies.

Mr. Zimmer’s claim that we would get to 100% of the federal budget being given to health care if increases continue at the past rates is claptrap. Quite frankly, I am surprised that anyone would spout such stupid nonsense, so I used the fact of his own income to prove what nonsense it is. If you want to include all public sector wages, go ahead. It would simply emphasize my point that Mr. Zimmer’s contention that every single penny raised in federal taxes would go to healthcare really is total claptrap.

What federal budget? That’s so 2014 .

Yes ammonra, I consider you second rate! I consider you second rate because you and your Union think that the taxpayers of the province should give you a raise, regardless of whether or not their income has increased! You expect a raise, even in years when the economy is in decline and the rest of us are living on less, living if fear of a job layoff, living in fear of a mortgage foreclosure, living in fear that you couldn’t care less about!

Regardless of whether the economy has improved, or if the economy has slowed, you and your Union think that you deserve a raise!

Public sector workers are very well paid! You need to stop listening to your Union. Your Union is doing nothing more than justifying it’s existence! It tells you how hard done by you are and like a fool, instead of looking around to determine how well off you are, you buy into the Union’s drivel, you lap it up like a hungry dog and come back begging for more validation from your Union!

And then you think that I should pay more, because you want more!

Yup, second rate!! Pathetically second rate!!!

The next federal election is the election where voters should think very seriously about how much the Conservatives have cut transfer payments to fund health care. If you want to make sure you have universal health care and keep the standard of it as it currently is…then the Conservatives need to be voted out of office. My opinion also is that Bob Zimmerthe local MP has been a very weak and poor representative of PG North. A spin doctor for the Conservatives.

Hart Guy,

1. I do not have a union.
2. I am retired.
3. Increases in my income are from well managed pension plan investments.
4. Taxpayers have absolutely nothing to do with my income.
5. I am well aware of how well off I am, I just did my taxes.
6. I prepared for my retirement over a working lifetime.
7. I don’t think you should pay more taxes, just your fair share.
8. I do think governments should change their spending priorities.
9. I have never begged anyone for anything.

Your diatribe in response to my comments about Mr. Zimmer is both insulting and a classic example of on-line bullying. It is so full of wrong assumptions and false information that it appears to be irrational. Sit back, take a pill, chill out! The world is not going to end just because you don’t have a reasonable response to my comments about claptrap.

Finally, I believe that we are all equal and I include you in that. In fact, our country is founded on equality as a principle. You might want to read up on it some time. Personally, I consider myself to be proudly at the forefront in that.

Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 @ 11:13 PM by ammonra
“Mr. Zimmer’s claim that we would get to 100% of the federal budget being given to health care if increases continue at the past rates is claptrap. Quite frankly, I am surprised that anyone would spout such stupid nonsense, so I used the fact of his own income to prove what nonsense it is. If you want to include all public sector wages, go ahead. It would simply emphasize my point that Mr. Zimmer’s contention that every single penny raised in federal taxes would go to healthcare really is total claptrap.”

I am surprised someone who is retired and watching investments cannot do math. Here is a small rundown and maybe you can understand.

Let’s say healthcare today is 25% of the budget and that it is going up at 6 percent a year – year 1 25% – 2 27% – 3 28% – 4 30$ – 5 32% – 6 33% – 7 35% – 8 38% – 9 40% – 10 42% – 11 45% – 12 47% – 13 50% – 14 53% – 15 57% – 16 60% – 17 64% – 18 67% – 19 71% – 20 76% – 21 80% – 22 85% – 23 90% – 24 95% – 25 101%
This is simply done on a everyday calculator taking the current percentage x 1.06 which is 6 percent increase, there are fractions after the whole number but I left those out

This is of course barring any increase or loss of revenue over the years, but IF revenue stayed stagnant starting at 25% just in 25 years we would be at 100% of the budget. This is not claptrap, but the same thing that is happening with public sector wages, it doesn’t hurt as much those first few years but then the compounding effect in later years does you in.

April Fool yourself, Slinky. “IF revenue stayed stagnant.” IF.

“Am I a second class, inferior citizen because I worked providing cancer diagnostic services in the laboratory in Prince George?”

========================

Not in my book ammonra. Thank you for undertaking the work that you did, I’d say it was damn important to many people.

Ammonra, I was a bit harsh on you last night! I guess that I must be under a bit of stress!

You see, I live in a world that you probably not very familiar with. As a self-employed business owner in the private sector, I start each day wondering if I will be able to generate enough business today, tomorrow and the next day, enough business to generate the profit needed in order to pay my bills! That’s stressful!

I worry that I might not be able to generate enough business to pay the staff that relies on me and people like me. If I and people like me fail to generate enough business, they might not be able to pay their bills. They might lose their jobs! That’s really stressful!

I have a city administration and a municipal workforce that relies on me and people like me to generate enough business so that we are able to pay our various taxes, fees, permits, etc., all of which help pay the salaries of workers that seem to be doing very well! Yup, that’s more stress!

I have both a Provincial Government and a Federal Government along with their workforce who are also relying on me and others like me to generate enough wealth to support our economy and all that goes with it including public sector salaries, benefits and pensions! Man, I am so stressed out that I should take a stress day! Oops, don’t get stress days!!

It doesn’t seem to matter if the economy is doing well, or if it is doing poorly, I still have pay my share to make the wheels on the bus go round and round, even if it means I make do with less!

Public sector workers always seem to be asking for a raise! They think that they deserve a raise, need a raise! But I don’t believe that they ever stop to think about where that raise has to come from? Does it matter to you that I might have to struggle in order to give you a raise? Didn’t think so!

I have a couple of questions for you. You say that you do not have a union. Is that because you are now retired? Must be nice to be able to afford to retire!

You state that increases in your income are from well managed pension plan investments and then you also state that Taxpayers have absolutely nothing to do with your income. Are you now receiving a public sector pension? If you are, are you completely unaware that Taxpayers have likely made higher contributions to your public sector pension plan than you have?

If you are receiving a defined benefit public sector pension plan, are you aware that any shortfalls in the pension will be subsidized by the Taxpayer? Yes, ammonra, the public at large will be required to fund any deficits in your pension plan!

You don’t think that I should pay more taxes, just my fair share! What do you think is my fair share?

You suggest that you prepared for your retirement over a working lifetime. If I didn’t have to make contributions to YOUR pension plan, I might have more money to put into my RRSP!

You think governments should change their spending priorities. I agree! Any increases to healthcare or education spending should not go towards increased wages, benefits and pensions!

You never begged anyone for anything? Was that your Union’s job?

Lastly, you state that you believe that we are all equal! How can you say this, when as a public sector employee, you enjoyed wages, benefits and now pensions that exceed those of comparable private sector workers? How can you say that when you have no worries about any shortfall in your pension plan? After all, you can always rely on me to prop up any shortfalls, even if it means that I have to reduce contributions to my own retirement savings!

Glad that you think that we are equal!