Government Spending

Alberta’s ‘Spending Restraint’ in Perspective

— Jun 20, 2024

Alberta’s “Spending Restraint” in Perspective is a new study that finds although the Alberta government’s current plan to restrain program spending increases is a constructive way to bring provincial spending more in line with sustainable revenues, doing so will be hindered by increases in per person spending introduced over the last two years. In fact, program spending this year will reach $14,334 per Albertan, which is $1,603 more per person (inflation-adjusted) than the government planned to spend this year as outlined in the 2022 mid-year budget update.

Federal Support for Journalism

— Jun 4, 2024

Federal Support for Journalism, by Senior Fellow Lydia Miljan, is the latest essay in the Institute’s series on federal policy reforms. It documents the changing media landscape in Canada in recent years, and highlights why federal subsidies for the industry are bad policy.

How Have Canadian Federal Governments Responded to Budget Deficits?

— May 31, 2024

How Have Canadian Federal Governments Responded to Budget Deficits? is a new study that measures how Canadian federal governments have responded to budget deficits over the last 150 years. It finds that a delay in balancing the budget will require deeper spending cuts and higher tax hikes in the future than if the government balanced the budget now. Put simply, it is better if the federal government embarks on fiscal adjustment early on, rather than postponing deficit elimination.

Funding for BC Independent Schools Saves Government Money

— May 22, 2024

Funding for BC Independent Schools Saves Government Money finds that, despite misperceptions, government funding for independent schools in British Columbia saves the province (i.e. provincial taxpayers) millions of dollars every year. Looking specifically at the costs, even if just 10 per cent of independent school students migrated to government public schools because the B.C. government eliminated independent school funding, education spending would increase by $51.6 million per year.

Understanding British Columbia’s Public Management Challenge

— May 7, 2024

Understanding British Columbia’s Public Management Challenge finds that despite substantial spending increases by the B.C. government, the province’s health-care wait times have increased and student test scores have declined.

The Size of Government in Canada in 2022

— Mar 26, 2024

The Size of Government in Canada in 2022 measures federal, provincial, and local government spending in each province as a share of the economy (GDP) from 2007 to 2022 (the most recent year of comparable data) finding that government size grew in every province except Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan during that period. In 2022, the size of government relative to the economy as a whole across Canada ranged from a low of 26.8 per cent in Alberta to a high of 63 per cent in Nova Scotia--and was 40.5 of Canada’s total economy.

Recent Government Spending Commentaries and Blog Posts

British Columbia’s finances go from bad to worse during Eby’s first full year

Tegan Hill, Grady Munro

Appeared in Business in Vancouver, August 30, 2024

The government increased spending $3.5 billion beyond its original budget plan.

Canada’s federal bureaucracy expanding rapidly at your expense

Matthew Lau

Appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, August 29, 2024

Since 2015, the number of employees at the federal department for Women and Gender Equality increased by 382 per cent.

Alberta government must reform spending to avoid deficits

Tegan Hill

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, August 28, 2024

The government will spend a projected $6,037 more per Albertan over four years than it originally planned.

Ontario education spending up but student performance is down

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, August 26, 2024

Many of the province's curriculum guides are confusing and lack sufficient content.

Test scores help predict level of ‘knowledge capital’ entering the economy

Derek J. Allison

The production of knowledge capital helps fuel economic growth and prosperity.

More money not the answer for schools—just look at Alberta

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the National Post, August 23, 2024

The province's charter schools incentivize government school boards to diversify their programming options.

Ignore Ottawa’s talking points—Canada is a highly indebted country

Jake Fuss

Appeared in the Hub, August 22, 2024

In 2024, federal debt interest costs are expected to eclipse $54 billion.

Alberta remains largest net contributor to Ottawa’s coffers despite damaging federal policies

Tegan Hill, Spencer Gudewill

Appeared in the Financial Post, August 15, 2024

From 2007 to 2022, Albertans contributed $244.6 billion more to the federal government than they received.

Ontario government is anything but ‘fiscally responsible’

Jake Fuss, Grady Munro

Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, August 14, 2024

This year the government plans to run a $9.8 billion deficit followed by a $4.6 billion deficit next year.

Endless spending increases will not fix Canada’s health-care system

Mackenzie Moir, Jake Fuss

From 1993 to 2023, health-care wait times have increased by 198 per cent.