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1. Four reasons why Alberta’s vague balance budget plan may fall short

   Last month, when Finance Minister Joe Ceci unveiled Alberta’s 2018 budget, despite weeks stoking expectations of a detailed plan to eliminate the province’s budget deficit, he instead delivered a risky plan almost entirely reliant on ...

2. Surprise—Alberta’s government debt burden is approaching Quebec’s

   The recent provincial budgets released by the Quebec and Alberta governments are a study in contrasts of government debt. On one hand, Quebec has a high-debt government that’s aiming to reduce its debt burden. On the other hand, Alberta ...

3. Why Is Alberta’s Deficit Still So Big?

   Main Conclusions The Government of Alberta has run nearly uninterrupted deficits since 2008/09 including deficits expected to average over $9 billion annually between 2016/17 and 2018/19. Alberta’s deficit today is much larger than the deficit the current ...

4. Budget increases debt burden for future generations of Albertans

   Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, March 23, 2018 The Notley government has delivered Alberta’s 2018 budget and the figures would be shocking if Albertans weren’t already accustomed to similar numbers. The operating deficit is expected to be $8.8 billion in ...

5. Alternative Paths for Alberta's Budget: Balance by 2023/24 Is Not Enough

   Alberta faces significant fiscal and economic challenges. The government has run nearly uninterrupted deficits since 2008/09 and has seen an approximately $57 billion decline in its net financial assets between 2008/09 and 2017/18. The government has ...

6. Another tough year for Alberta finances

   Another year, another deficit. The Government of Alberta has run nearly uninterrupted deficits since 2008/09, and this year is no exception. In fact, that $10.3 billion deficit the province plans to run this year is just shy of the ...

7. New report highlights Alberta’s long-term budget challenges

   The PBO has given the Notley government another warning that spending is badly out of line with revenue. ...

8. Alberta—from fiscal leader to fiscal laggard

   Appeared in the Calgary Herald, September 16, 2017 What a difference a decade makes. In 2007/08, Alberta had a balanced budget and was the only province whose financial assets exceeded its debts. In fact, the province’s net financial position (after ...

9. Canada’s Past Fiscal Leaders Are Now Fiscal Laggards: An Analysis of 2017 Provincial Budgets

   Around the turn of the 21st century, Alberta and Ontario could both boast of having comparatively sound public finances relative to most other provinces. In recent years, however, serious fiscal problems have emerged in both provinces. Alberta and Ontario ...

10. Alberta was once the land of opportunity—not so much any more

    Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, August 31, 2017 Go west, young man. Not long ago that was sound advice for a young person struggling to find opportunities in Eastern and Central Canada. While it may still hold true for parts of Western Canada, it’s no ...