Last year, the province ran a $6.7 billion operating deficit.
alberta budget
To eliminate the deficit, the government’s four-year plan will cut program spending by 1.6 per cent over four years.
Premier Ford’s first budget called for continued nominal spending growth.
The Kenney government plans to reduce spending by 1.6 per cent over four years.
Additional spending reductions would have created additional fiscal room for pro-growth tax reform.
Government revenues in all provinces—but especially Alberta—are unpredictable.
Alberta's per-person debt-service costs may hit $655 by 2020/21.
Per-person spending in Alberta last year was 18.5 per cent higher than in next-door B.C.
Alberta spent $2,451 per person more than the average spent by the three largest provinces.
Interest payments on Alberta's government debt jumped from $61 (per person) to $655.