Up Front - At what price do we get free health care?

Emily Plihal
Express staff

Albertans were thoroughly elated when we discovered the provincial government was eliminating the health care premiums, my question is now that individuals have no monthly health care bill, how will government recoup the money?

A close examination at the basic running of each Canadian province makes me wonder how the Alberta government will make up the loss they’ll suffer to their annual budget, especially now Alberta government has announced a substantial deficit to the 2009 budget.

Each province, with the exception of Alberta and the three territories, has a provincial tax attached to purchases. The little bit of extra tax works well to balance debt from each end of the spectrum, think road repair and hospitals, etc.

Last Tuesday, government announced the increase of Sin tax, which will affect primarily liquor and tobacco sales. The increase has been announced at $1.50 per case of beer, and $3 per carton of cigarettes to name a couple.

This is one potential way of increasing sales which will directly fund the government’s budget. Is there a direct correlation between the elimination of health care tax and increase of Sin tax? I would imagine there is.

In this case, the government is aware tobacco and alcohol are not necessities. They are a luxury item that do not fall under the category of “need”.

Will this affect liquor sales or tobacco sales? I do not believe so. Cigarettes have been increasing in price as long as I remember, and I haven’t seen a huge decrease in smokers in Alberta. I remember the retail price being somewhere in the vicinity of $4 per package when I first started to work when I was 14.

The 12 years that have passed, I have seen cigarettes rise to approximately $13 per package in most outlets.

Really, the price of a box of beer hasn’t risen much either. To me, if I had to choose between spending $25 on a case of beer or paying for my health care, I’d much rather pay for the beer.

At least then, if I should get sick, I will be provided with health services I require. The box of beer is a luxury item most individuals will fit into their budget, if they want the beverage.

I understand the government has been forced to fund provincial projects in alternative forms. The only major issue I see is sinking our province back into a deficit.

Multiple government figures have said the debt is unavoidable. Is it just me, or do you remember our former Premier Ralph Klein saying our province would never again see a deficit.

What happened?

In 2009, a few short years since Mr. Klein stepped down, we will be sinking back into that black hole oblivion of debt. It is much easier for our province to go into debt than for it to climb out of a multi-million dollar negative.

I can imagine the pressure the government faces when balancing the provincial books, I have a tough time balancing my personal finances. But that’s what they’re paid the big bucks for. Will our current government ever be able to recoup all the losses related to our current economy?

I don’t believe all the blame should be placed on the shoulders of the current Alberta government, I am just concerned with the downfall of our provincial industries and the direction we are headed.

I understand the world is in an economic recession, but how do individuals lessen the burden felt municipally, provincially, nationally and internationally? It’s tough to buy products when there is no income. Where do we go from here?

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