Last week on January 9th, the UCP government announced details of the inflation relief program with applications being open on the 18th. The program targets eligible Albertans making a household income of $180,000 a year or less and who are over the age of 65 or families with children under 18. While the UCP’s plan to tackle inflation is a step in the right direction it does not go far enough leaving many Albertans without any relief in this inflationary crisis. The Alberta Inflation Relief Plan is a package of measures aimed at addressing the high cost of living in the province. However, the plan has been met with criticism from various quarters. One of the main criticisms is that it does not address the underlying causes of inflation in Alberta, such as high energy costs and a lack of competition in the retail sector. Additionally, the plan disproportionately benefits higher-income earners, while doing little to help low-income individuals and families. For example, low-incom
Background of Liberalism Liberalism is not only a political movement but also a moral/ethical and socio-economic concept. The definition of liberalism varies from country to country but at its core, the characteristics that define liberalism are equality, rule of law, liberty and individual rights. Two dominant branches of liberalism are classical and modern liberalism. Classical liberalism emphasizes individual rights, limited government and free-market capitalism. Modern liberalism also known as social liberalism stresses the need for a regulated market-orientated economy while expanding civil and political rights. Liberalism in Eastern Canada Historically speaking liberalism in Canada has had two phases. Up until the 1950s liberal politicians were mostly liberals in the classical sense. A shift towards social liberalism started to take place when Lester B. Pearson became prime minister. Politicians and society at large started to address Canada's legacy issues. This shift toward