Alberta government touts balanced Budget plan to create jobs, grow the economy and protect vital services

The bottom line for debt for Alberta will be $93.2 billion by 2022-23. That’s not far off the former NDP government’s $97.1 billion debt forecast for the same year. Deficit projections between the current and former governments for the 19-20 and 20-21 fiscal years are also similar. Budget 2019 projects the combined deficit for those two years at $14.5 billion compared to the NDP’s final budget in 2018 projecting $14.9 billion over the same period. However, the current government is projecting a return to balance a year earlier than the NDP with the expectation of a nearly $600 million surplus by the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Asked about this on Thursday, Toews challenged the notion the NDP budgets were credible while the UCP’s plan is the first in a long time to actually reduce operational spending. Toews also raised the issue of differing calculations used between the two governments in calculating their respective budgets.

But while the numbers aren’t so different on paper, there is no shortage of variances between the NDP and UCP priorities in their respective last and first budgets.

Tackling climate change has been replaced as a priority with job creation. Stabilizing operating costs have switched to spending reductions. And increased taxes have been replaced with reductions in corporate rates to spur investment.

As for changes, there will be a number of them as this government re-prioritizes its agenda with a focus on attempting to stimulate business investment and job creation by lowering corporate tax rates and attracting private-sector investment. Total provincial revenue is projected to rise by over $7 billion between 2019 and 2023 to $57.5 billion.

Personal income tax exceptions will no longer be indexed, municipal infrastructure funding will be reduced in 2020, tuition tax credits will be cut along with the tuition freeze lifted. And there will be increased taxes on tobacco and – eventually – vaping products as well as a realignment of child benefit programs. For those renting out properties on a short-term basis through services like Airbnb, legislation is expected which will, “level the playing field,” with other accommodation providers who pay a four per cent provincial tourism tax.

For capital spending in southeastern Alberta, this year’s budget is short on outlined specific projects. The most noteworthy – if not the only – being the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital which will continue to see investment of $9 million and $6 million in 2019 and 2020 respectively as the expansion project wraps up.

There is no specific spending dedicated to the twinning of Hwy. 3 but $597 million has been budgeted for unspecified twinning and widening projects provincially between now and the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Budget 2019 will suspend previously indexed tax credits and brackets until the provincial fiscal outlook improves, though, this isn’t expected to see a change to Albertan’s lowest overall tax burden nationally.

As for natural gas, Budget 2019 cites increased production in North America for driving down prices but also the lack of market access for the product

Municipal funding will get a reprieve before amounts get rolled back in 2020-21 fiscal year. That year will see Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding reduced by $94 million followed by a further $142 million in 2021-22. A new province-wide municipal funding program will be introduced for the 2022-23 fiscal year which will replace MSI, the Municipal Transportation Grant and the City Charters Fiscal Framework Act.

Library, police and family and community support grants will be maintained in Budget 2019.

The tuition cap will be removed with post-secondary institutions able to raise rates by a maximum of seven per cent annually over each of the next three years.

The province plans to cut public jobs in the public sector by 7.7 per cent, primarily through attrition.

A carton of tobacco will cost $5 more starting Friday.

Toews said he expects the eventual reduction of the corporate tax rate from 12 per cent to eight will have a net fiscal boast to the provincial economy.

And, he added, especially in light of the recent federal election, “we have to ensure we have our fiscal house in order.”

Budget Highlights 2019

Creating jobs and growing the economy

Enshrines the Job Creation Tax Cut
Streamlines government processes and eliminates red tape
Provides new funding for innovation
Builds investor confidence and improves global competitiveness

Protecting front-line services and supports for the most vulnerable

Protects funding for health and education
Increases funding for mental health, addictions and social supports

Living within our means

Reduces spending by 2.8 per cent over four years – that’s three cents on the dollar
Balances the budget by 2022-23
Addresses a financial situation that already costs Albertans $5 million a day in interest to big banks and threatens to burden our children
Does not rely on overly optimistic revenue projections

Keeping our commitments to Albertans

Some of the commitments include:

Implementing the TIER program to support climate initiatives
Introducing the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
Increasing funding for Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
Hiring 50 new prosecutors and supporting programs to reduce rural crime
Investing in increased access to Drug Treatment Courts
Investing to create the Heroes Fund and Veterans Scholarship

Budget 2019

Read the budget speech

Toews will speak in Lethbridge on Friday, November 1st. More details here.

by Alex McQuaig

Alberta government touts balanced Budget plan to create jobs, grow the economy and protect vital services

Creating jobs and growing the economy

Protecting front-line services and supports for the most vulnerable

Living within our means

Keeping our commitments to Albertans

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