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Alberta government debt is the net amount of money the Government of Alberta has borrowed from the general public, institutional investors and public-sector bodies. Alberta's net debt was CDN$27.5 billion by March 2019, which represents the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year (FY).[1]: 70 [2] The Debt-to-GDP ratio for 2017-2018 is xx.x% and interest on the debt is CDN$xx.xx billion, representing x.0% of Alberta's revenue and its x-largest spending area.

The McKinnon Report

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The September 3, 2019 McKinnon Report, which was commissioned by Premier Jason Kenney shortly after his United Conservative Party (UCP) won the April 16, 2019 Alberta general election,[3] in response to his campaign promise to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget by fiscal year 2022/3.[1] The report by a panel chaired by former Saskatchewan finance minister Janice MacKinnon, said that in order to achieve that, there should be "no increases in government spending for four years and a reduction in operating costs by at least $600 million, as well as cuts in capital spending."[3] The report sets out 26 recommendations which include "sweeping reviews of health care and education".[3]

The report warned that Alberta's net financial assets had eroded from a net positive position of $31.7 billion in financial assets c. 2009 to a net debt of $27.5 billion by March 2019—the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year (FY).[1]: 70 [2]

The report recommends increased use of private or not-for-profit clinics to deliver some health services, as well as placing limits of the amount doctors can charge for certain services.[3]

Credit ratings

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On April 4, 2019 Fitch Ratings confirmed their AA credit rating for the province of Alberta's long-term investments, which include long-term foreign currency bonds default rating (IDR), long-term Canadian currency bonds (IDR), and senior unsecured bonds.[4] Fitch's highest rating for long-term investments is AAA. Fitch's ratings for Alberta's short-term IDR is F1+, which is the highest quality rating. F1+ is assigned to borrowers to who have an "exceptionally strong capacity of obligor to meet its financial commitment"—it is highly unlikely that the debtor will default "within a 12-month period".

Debt breakdown

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The Treasury and Risk Management (TRM) Division of Alberta's Treasury Board and Finance manage Alberta's borrowing programs which include Domestic Medium Term Note (DMTN), Domestic Promissory Note Program, Australian Medium Term Note Program, U.S. Commercial Paper Program, and the Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) Program (Rule 144A inside the U.S. and Regulation S).[5]

  • Canadian Dollar Public Bonds: $xxx.xB (xx%)[6]
  • Foreign Currency Bonds: $xx.xB (xx%)[6]
  • Canadian Dollar Treasury Bills: $xx.xB (x%)
  • Canadian Dollar Non-Public Debt: $xx.xB (x%)
  • US Dollar Commercial Paper: $x.xB (x%)

The majority of the debt (xx.x%) was issued in Canadian currency.

Alberta's net debt was $27.5 billion by March 2019, which represents the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year (FY).[1]: 70 [2]

By November 2018, Alberta's government expenditures were $55 billion while the revenue was about $48 billion, according to a report by the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy (SPP) economist, Trevor Tombe.[7]: 4  Capital investment amounted to $4.3 billion.[7] The provincial government employs more than "210,000 full-time equivalent workers across hundreds of departments, boards and other entities."[7] Tombes, cited a $8.3 billion deficit in his November report,[7]: 5  prior to the release in February 2019 of the corrected deficit figures, which was "$1.9 billion less in 2018-19 than originally expected", —$6.9-billion deficit instead of the original $8.8-billion".[8]

Alberta's current deficit is "unusual for the province", says Tombes.[7]: 7  During the financial crisis, Alberta's "net asset position equivalent to 15 per cent of GDP"−it "owned more financial assets than it owed in debt."[7]: 6 

In 2009 Alberta had $31.7 billion in financial assets.[1]: 70 

Alberta's government debt to GDP

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Net government debt to GDP by province March 2019[7]: 6 
BC Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland
15.5% 8.7% 15.4% 34.2% 37.6% 43% 40% 34.2 33% 47.3%

By fiscal year

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Fiscal Year Net Debt
(CDN$ billions)
2018-2019 xxx (projected)
2017-2018 xxx
2016-2017 xxx
2015-2016 xxx
2014-2015 xxx
2013-2014 xxx
2012-2013 xxx
2011-2012 xxx
2010-2011 xxx
2009-2010 xxx
2008-2009 xxx
2007-2008 xxx
2006-2007 xxx
2005-2006 xxx
2004-2005 xxx
2003-2004 xxx
2002-2003 xxx
2001-2002 xxx
2000-2001 xxx
1999-2000 xxx
1998-1999 xxx
1997-1998 xxx
1996-1997 xxx
1995-1996 xxx
1994-1995 xxx
1993-1994 xxx
1992-1993 xxx
1991-1992 xxx
1990-1991 xxx
1989-1990 xxx
1988-1989 xxx
1987-1988 xxx
1986-1987 xxx
Source:

History

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The government of Alberta's debt...

Causes of debt

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x and x account for more than xx% of Alberta's spending ($xx.xB and $xx.xB, respectively

Tax cuts ... reduced government revenues.

Risks and consequences

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In 20xx, Moody's Investors Service downgraded Alberta's rating from Aa1 to Aa2, citing "growing debt burden" as a major concern.[9]

The Provincial Solvency and Federal Obligations

Debt reduction

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See also

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{{portal|Alberta

  • [[Economy of Alberta
  • [[Government of Alberta
  • [[Canadian public debt

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e MacKinnon, Janice; Mike Percy; Kim Henderson; Bev Dahlby; Dave Mowat; Jay Ramotar (August 2019). MacKinnon Report on Alberta's Finances (PDF) (Report). p. 82. Retrieved September 7, 2019. An independent panel of experts reviewed Alberta's finances and provided recommendations to bring the budget back to balance. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c Varcoe, Chris; September 4, 2019. "MacKinnon report recommends tough medicine for Alberta's budget blues". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Graveland, Bill (September 3, 2019). "Alberta panel says savings to be found in health, education changes". Global News via Canadian Press. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  4. ^ Fitch affirms province of Alberta at 'AA': Outlook stable (PDF) (Report). New York: Fitch Ratings. April 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  5. ^ Bondholders information, Investor relations, Edmonton, Alberta, 2019, retrieved September 8, 2019 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ a b "Term Debt Outstanding Term debt outstanding as of" (PDF). September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Tombe, Trevor (November 2018). "Alberta's long-term fiscal future" (PDF). SPP Research Paper. 11 (31). Calgary, Alberta: The School of Public Policy (SPP): 36. ISSN 2560-8320. Retrieved September 6, 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference edmontonjournal_Clancy_20190228 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Province of Alberta (Canada) Update to credit analysis" (PDF). Moody's Investors Service. March 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
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[[:Category:Finance in Alberta [[:Category:Government of Alberta Category:Canadian public debt