The Liberals want to hear evidence on the merits of extending the four-year tax moratorium for existing trusts or exempting energy trusts, John McCallum, the lawmaker responsible for financial affairs, said in a telephone interview today. An election may take place this year because the Conservatives hold a minority of seats in the House of Commons and need opposition support to stay in power.
``We would require a position on this issue in an election and I don't think we can come to a good public policy conclusion without answers to these key questions,'' McCallum said. ``We haven't made up our minds.''
It would be interesting to see how far that would go towards the Liberals picking up some seats in Calgary.
I have heard comments around town that this is the worse piece of legislation for Alberta since the NEP came about. While I am not personally feeling any effects from this, it would be an interesting turn of events if the Liberals ran on a platform of exempting energy trusts and ended up being the better party for the oil industry.
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It would be interesting to see how far that would go towards the Liberals picking up some seats in Calgary.
While the Liberals *may* pick up some votes in Calgary, I doubt they will pick up any seats. It is also possible that many that were opposed to the Trust decision will simply not vote in the next election rather than vote Liberal.
In the last election the Tories swept Calgary with anything from 55% to 75% of the popular vote, depending on riding. The remainder of the vote was split with Green, Liberals, and NDP all within a few percent of each other.
While the Liberals *may* pick up some votes in Calgary, I doubt they will pick up any seats. It is also possible that many that were opposed to the Trust decision will simply not vote in the next election rather than vote Liberal.
In the last election the Tories swept Calgary with anything from 55% to 75% of the popular vote, depending on riding. The remainder of the vote was split with Green, Liberals, and NDP all within a few percent of each other.
i think it's a bad move by Dion with little, if any, political benefit for the Liberals
Albertans aren't pissed off enough by the Con's con to vote Liberal in any meaningful amount
I'm inclined to suspect the report. I have not read anything of the sort in either the G&M or the Star. Has anybody? I will need further evidence before I believe that Dion is seriously contemplating any such policy.
We don't know to what degree they are contemplating this move, but they are taking a look at what their position should be.
Quote:
The Liberals and Bloc want Parliament to consider whether the tax-free grace period should be extended to 10 years.
The Liberals also want to probe Mr. Flaherty's claim that income trusts were costing Ottawa $500-million in uncollected tax revenue each year -- as well as explore the possibility that energy trusts should be exempted from the levy.
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