The provincial government calls it fair, moderate and positive.  It's really not a lot, or something that anyone would notice.  I call it $40 bucks.

It’s the 40 dollars the province was going to give us back for a break on our property tax.  Unfortunately the big purple people eater at City Council has something else to say and that is "Sorry, its mine".

The old joke goes "What do you call a politician that doesn’t lie, cheat or steal? Retired."  Maybe its not a joke, but this certainly is.  I want my $40 bucks.

Its not like the Redford government couldn’t use some good news and now it turns out it's being hi-jacked on the way to our doorsteps.  Somehow you knew this would happen.  If Redford gets the golden apple it would have to have a worm in it and that would be the case here.  

The average return for homeowners here in Calgary from the province is forty dollars we have overpaid, so actually, it’s rightfully our money.

I guess I shouldn’t complain too loud because I might be heard out in Chestemere where they are getting a bill that would choke a horse because they have been paying too little (by the way, not their fault).

So back to us lucky devils that had that cash coming but now it automatically roles into city coffers.  Alderman now get together to figure out the best way to spend the windfall reaped upon them.

Gord Lowe who last smiled during the civil war says lets keep the cash. It will make the budget look better and lower the rate.  Gord always says lets keep the cash.

Then there is the good guy - Andre Chabot who most always does the right thing.  He says, “ I think we should debate this and think about it” Sometimes I forget he’s a politician.  Way too honest.

Andre kind of reminds me of the great mayor we once had by the name of Ralph.  The kind of guy you could trust to lend him anything you owned and you know he’d do the right thing.

There are a few on city council that agree with Andre, but they seem to be ignored.

So here we sit wondering about that forty dollars we might have seen, reminiscing of Ralph bucks in the good old days when oil was worth something and so was a promise.

What would I do with the forty bucks you ask?  Probably give it to a teacher that just got handed a sack of hammers for a raise after trusting the Premier.  Such a sad situation.

At least they still stay late, teach classes way too big and do what they said they would do when they took the oath of public service.

And while we are talking about oaths, I must remember my doctor who gave me her cell phone number so I could call her personally 24 hours a day when my wife was sick.  I’m sure with the 275 million they are ripping them off for I could give her the 20 bucks for a bottle of scotch.  Lord knows she would love that.

I am doing pretty well at this point, but there are those barely getting by that could use that for a half tank of gas to take their kid to hockey, pay the power bill or donate to the food bank to feed those who are destitute at this time of year.

I guess the real point being is you should have a choice before its snatched out of your hands from the city and spent before it arrives.  One might think, following a pattern, the mayor may have his eye on provincial politics.  This certainly fits the bill.

Just so you know, $40.00 buys a pair of Fergalicious pumps for your wife, some Skullcandy headphones for your kid, a chocolate Cheesecake from The Cakery, ten Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a box of Callebaut chocolates or my vote in the next election.

- Ger