Canada enjoyed an economic and fiscal renaissance starting in the mid-1990s that lasted more than a decade.
government debt
Over the last decade, higher energy prices and entrepreneur-friendly policies drove Alberta’s booming economy, generating a significant windfall in government revenue.
After seven years of budget deficits and over $160 billion in new debt, the federal government confirmed in its financial update Wednesday that it expects to record a surplus next year.
“B.C. is currently on target to balance the 2014/15 budget,” declared Mike de Jong, B.C.’s finance minister while unveiling the government’s latest financial update. Understandably, many British Columbians will take de Jong’s comments at face value.
Lost in the current flurry of Ontarios election campaign is the one key issue facing the province, and indeed all of Canada: Ontarios laggard economic performance is dragging down the national economy.
It has been more than two years since an independent commission submitted its report to the Ontario government on the provinces poor public finances and high government debt.