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1. Alberta deficit hit $8 billion despite improving resource revenues

   The Government of Alberta released its 2017/18 annual report Thursday, closing the book on the 2017/18 fiscal year. According to the report, the deficit for the fiscal year turned out to be $2.5 billion less than initially anticipated ...

2. The key fiscal lesson of Canada’s first 150 years—spend prudently

   As 2017 draws to a close, Canadians can reflect not only on the outcomes of the last year, but in this milestone 150th year of the federation, also where we are headed. What shall Canada’s economic achievements be as the next 50 years ...

3. Provincial government net debt up 89% in less than a decade

   After a lull spanning the first decade of the 21st century, it seems that provincial government debt is again on the rise. Based on figures compiled from the Federal Fiscal Reference Tables and plotted in the first chart below, total ...

4. Alberta in net debt for the first time in nearly 20 years

   The Government of Alberta released its 2016/17 Annual Report last week. The official deficit for that fiscal year totalled roughly $10.8 billion, bringing the province into a net debt position for the first time in nearly 20 years. The ...

5. Servicing government debt imposes real costs on Albertans

   We mustn’t forget that government debt has an immediate cost. Governments have to make interest payment on their debt every year. It’s not a choice. And doing so consumes government resources, leaving less money for other public ...

6. During the oil boom, Texas spent prudently, Alberta did not

   The oil boom between 2004 and 2014 presented a substantial opportunity for governments in oil-producing regions to bolster their public finances. Unfortunately, while some jurisdictions such as Texas did just that, Alberta did the ...