Alberta Prosperity

Undoing Alberta’s Personal Income Tax Hikes

— Apr 3, 2024

Undoing Alberta’s Personal Income Tax Hikes is a new study that finds reversing the 2015 provincial personal income tax rate increases and instituting a flat eight per cent tax rate would help restore Alberta’s tax advantage while saving taxpayers $1,573 a year, on average.

Alberta’s Underlying Budget Deficit

— Jan 30, 2024

Alberta’s Underlying Budget Deficit finds that if not for historically high resource revenue, the Alberta government would run a large budget deficit this year and the next two years.

It’s Time to Get Off the Resource Revenue Rollercoaster: Re-establishing the Alberta Sustainability Fund

— Oct 17, 2023

There’s time to get off the resource revenue rollercoaster: Re-establishing the Alberta Sustainability Fund is a new study that finds with spending restraint, Alberta can re-introduce a rainy-day fund worth $9.8 billion by 2025/26 that could help insulate the province’s budget from swings in resource revenue.

Don’t Spend Away the Windfall: Better Options for Alberta’s Unexpected Revenues

— Feb 9, 2023

Don’t Spend Away the Windfall: Better Options for Alberta’s Unexpected Revenues is a new study that finds when resource revenues have increased in the past, previous governments have increased spending, which led to sizeable deficits when resource revenues declined—making this an ample opportunity for Alberta to strengthen the province's finances and economy for the long-term.

Comparing Government and Private Sector Compensation in Alberta, 2021

— Nov 8, 2022

Comparing Government and Private Sector Compensation in Alberta, 2021 is a new study that finds even after adjusting for differences such as age, gender, education, tenure, type of work, industry, and occupation, government employees are still paid 5.6 per cent higher wages on average in Alberta compared to their private sector counterparts, in addition to many non-wage benefits such as Registered Pension Plans, personal leave, and early retirement.

Alberta Premiers and Government Spending

— Aug 3, 2022

Alberta Premiers and Government Spending finds that from 1965 to 2020, the highest level of per-person provincial government spending (adjusted for inflation) in Alberta occurred in 2017—three years before the pandemic.

Recent Alberta Prosperity Commentaries and Blog Posts

Alberta government should finally restore province’s tax advantage

Grady Munro, Jake Fuss, Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Western Standard, April 4, 2024

The province last year had the 10th-highest top combined income tax rate among 61 North American jurisdictions.

Alberta government should undo personal income tax hikes

Tegan Hill, Nathaniel Li

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, April 3, 2024

If the government made this change, approximately 2.3 million Albertans would save $1,573 per year (on average).

Alberta and B.C. budgets represent two different approaches to government finances

Grady Munro, Tegan Hill

According to projections, government debt interest will cost nearly $1,000 per British Columbian by 2026/27.

Alberta government increased spending despite promise of ‘restraint’

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, March 20, 2024

The province plans to spend $13.9 billion more over two fiscal years than originally planned in mid-year 2022.

Heritage Fund requires long-term commitment from Alberta government

Tegan Hill

The government should learn from past experience and ensure new rules about the fund are constitutional.

Alberta government must embrace new fiscal approach to keep ‘Heritage Fund’ promise

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Edmonton Journal, March 1, 2024

In Alaska, the government must pay a portion of fund earnings to citizens in annual dividends.

Alberta government’s budget promises will fall flat without clear long-term plan

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, February 29, 2024

Program spending from 2023/24 to 2025/26 will be $6.4 billion higher than projected just three months ago.

Alberta government makes big promises for next budget—but proper execution is key

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, February 28, 2024

Since the Heritage Fund's inception, in most years the government has made no contributions to the fund.

Albertans continue to pay for government debt—despite budget surpluses

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, February 14, 2024

The province's debt interest costs increased from $61 per person in 2007/08 to a projected $672 per person in 2023/24.

Alberta government must fundamentally reform health care to shorten wait times

Mackenzie Moir, Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, February 8, 2024

The median wait time for surgery in Alberta was 33.5 weeks, one of the longest waits in the country.