Search

Search results

1. Notley following Rae’s fiscal model—and getting the same results

   In 2015, Premier Notley’s incoming NDP government found itself at a crossroads when it came to handling Alberta’s deteriorating public finances. As detailed by a Fraser Institute study from that year, various past provincial NDP ...

2. Premier Notley choosing the wrong NDP premier to emulate

   Appeared in the Calgary Sun, Aug 10, 2017 None of us can control all the circumstances we face. What we can control, is how we respond to challenges. These choices often make the difference between positive and negative outcomes. It’s no different for ...

3. Rae Days in Alberta: The Notley Government at Two Years

   When Premier Notley took office two years ago in Alberta, her new government faced severe fiscal challenges. The province had a large and growing budget deficit and was headed towards net debt status for the first time in approximately 15 years. It was ...

4. Debt becoming the new normal in Alberta

   Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, July 21, 2017 Recently, the Government of Alberta published its annual report on the state of public finances for 2016/17. The report showed that Alberta’s provincial net debt (a measure that adjusts for financial assets ...

5. Alberta’s run of deficits tower over Ontario’s worst

   Appeared in the Financial Post, May 30, 2017 Over the past decade, Ontario emerged as the poster child for poor fiscal management in Canada, due largely to the province’s deep run of deficits. However, thanks to a decade of rapid spending growth and ...

6. Race to the Bottom: Comparing the Recent Deficits of Alberta and Ontario

   Alberta’s public finances are deteriorating rapidly, with the provincial government set to run a cumulative budget deficit of $27.6 billion over the three-year period from 2015/16 to 2017/18. Until recently, by far the largest deficits of any ...

7. Show us the plan, Minister Ceci

   Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, May 13, 2017 In a recent conference call with reporters, Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci said his government “has a clear plan to return [the budget] to balance.” This is news to Albertans, since the latest budget only ...

8. Notley government at two years—too much Rae, not enough Romanow

   Appeared in the Calgary Herald, May 12, 2017 Just over two years ago, Rachel Notley became the 17th Premier of Alberta. Upon taking office, Premier Notley’s government was confronted with serious fiscal challenges. Oil prices were down, the economy was ...

9. Alberta’s debt service costs set to double in just four years

   According to Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci (pictured above), the Notley government won’t alter its fiscal plan even if credit agencies again downgrade the province’s credit rating. This is troubling, as it means that Alberta will ...

10. Alberta’s net financial position has deteriorated by $68 billion in 11 years

    Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci (pictured above) recently claimed that the provincial government will maintain its spending trajectory, regardless of whether the province suffers another credit downgrade. With the province having ...