BY BOB GALLAGHER MTWX EDITORIAL TEAM
We hear it all the time: Alberta contributes more to Ottawa than it gets back. And on the surface, that feels like a raw deal.
But let’s go deeper.
Equalization isn’t a bank account where Alberta deposits $10 and Ontario gets $2.50. That’s not how it works. There’s no cheque-writing between provinces. It’s all federal revenue — a big pot funded by Canadians across the country. And that pot is redistributed based on something called “fiscal capacity.” In other words: which provinces can raise enough money on their own to fund public services.
Think of it like this: Imagine 10 friends putting money into a group pot based on how much they earn. At lunchtime, that pot is used to make sure everyone can afford a decent meal. The higher earners — like Alberta — put in more. Some friends get topped up so they can eat too. But if one friend is always paying more and never benefiting directly, it’s fair to wonder: am I supporting a feeding frenzy?
So yes, Alberta contributes a lot. But not because Ottawa is unfair. Alberta contributes a lot because Alberta produces a lot. It earns. It builds. It grows.
And it’s time we asked a bold question:
What if Alberta used its position not to complain — but to lead?
FROM RESENTMENT TO RESULTS
What if Alberta reallocated just a fraction of its fiscal power to fix real, local problems — and show the rest of the country what vision looks like?
✅ Free tuition for any Alberta student accepted into medical school at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary.
✅ Return-of-service requirements to help rural and northern Alberta communities get the doctors they desperately need.
✅ Turn S.A.I.T. and N.A.I.T. into global innovation hubs — the M.I.T. of Canada — feeding tech, energy, and AI breakthroughs directly into the Alberta economy.
That’s not protest. That’s purpose.
SHIFTING THE CONVERSATION
We don’t have to burn bridges with Confederation to take care of Alberta. But we don’t have to wait for Ottawa’s permission, either.
Leadership means showing — not just saying — what a better Canada could look like.
Equalization may never feel “fair.” But fairness is only one lens. Alberta can show the country what self-directed, high-impact provincial leadership looks like. We can set a standard.
And maybe, just maybe, the rest of the country will stop resenting Alberta’s strength — and start emulating it.
This is what leadership looks like when it’s driven by vision—not politics. If one strong province leads with bold ideas. There’s nothing stopping other provinces from doing the same—if they choose to lead instead of follow. The goal isn’t to divide Canada further — it’s to raise the bar for everyone.
✅ SPARK ACTION:
📩 Got a story or bold idea? → bob.gallagher@mtwx.ca
📤 Share this post with someone who believes in Alberta’s potential.
✅ Click here to subscribe → Because leadership doesn’t wait for permission.
✅ Join the Spark Project and help shape the next phase of Alberta’s future.
This message is powered by the Spark Project at MTWX.ca.
— Bob Gallagher
bob.gallagher@mtwx.ca
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