Alberta Prosperity

Comparing Government and Private Sector Compensation in Alberta, 2019

— Nov 26, 2019

Comparing Government and Private Sector Compensation in Alberta finds that public-sector employees in Alberta—including municipal, provincial and federal government workers—received 9.3 per cent higher wages on average than comparable workers in the private sector last year, and also enjoyed more generous pensions, earlier retirement, more personal leave and greater job security.

Evaluating Alberta's Energy Regulator

— Nov 21, 2019

Evaluating Alberta’s Energy Regulator finds that any meaningful reform of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) must target the corporation’s regulatory objectives, decision-making process and procedures because a sleeker, more efficient AER would be a big step in the right direction for Alberta and Canada as a whole.

Why Is Equalization Still Growing?

— Oct 31, 2019

Why Is Equalization Still Growing? finds that due to a specific rule (created in 2009) within Canada’s equalization program, which transfers federal tax dollars to lower-income provinces, total equalization payments to “have-not” provinces must grow every year, even if the gap between richer and poorer provinces shrinks. As a result, total program costs over the past two years have been $2.1 billion (or 5.7 per cent) larger than they would have been without the rule.

Recent Alberta Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

Outflow of Albertans should set off alarm bells

Tegan Hill, Alex Whalen

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, October 13, 2021

Unlike Texas, Alberta government finances deteriorated due to spending-fuelled budget deficits.

Alberta’s upcoming referendum bigger than equalization

Tegan Hill, Niels Veldhuis

Appeared in National Newswatch, October 12, 2021

Reforms in the 1990s led to a marked decline in welfare dependency and reduced spending on social assistance.

Despite smaller projected budget deficit, Albertans can’t afford to discount province’s fiscal challenges

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, September 22, 2021

A boost in projected revenues this year have reduced the expected deficit for 2021/22, but this will only provide a small amount of relief.

Alberta government should use unexpected windfall to stop resource rollercoaster

Tegan Hill, Steve Lafleur

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, September 8, 2021

By limiting the amount of resource revenue included in the budget, the fund could restore discipline to government spending.

Report paints bleak picture of Alberta’s fiscal future

Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, September 1, 2021

The province's per-person spending is significantly higher than in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec.

With higher oil prices, Alberta government must avoid fiscal mistakes of the past

Tegan Hill

The price of Brent Crude oil could reach US$100 per barrel in 2022 due to a surge in demand.

Dividends to Albertans would ensure better maintenance of Heritage Fund

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, August 19, 2021

If Alberta had followed Alaska’s model, Albertans could have received $101.5 billion in dividends.

Alberta needs robust fiscal rules that survive tough times

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, August 18, 2021

By making fiscal rules constitutional in nature, governments can protect them from being ignored.

Pressure mounts to change ‘stabilization’ program and increase payments to Alberta

Tegan Hill, Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, August 4, 2021

Alberta received just $249 million in payments despite a revenue loss of $7.2 billion.

Kenney government could restore Alberta’s tax advantage without big budget hit

Ergete Ferede, Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, July 21, 2021

In 2015, the government replaced the single-rate personal income tax with five tiers that include a top rate of 15 per cent.