Opinion

Alberta was eligible for $348 million in COVID-related federal government money for its low-paid essential workers, but only accessed $12 million; a shortfall of $335.8 million that could have been used to assist workers and their families, and to stimulate the province’s struggling economy. This is the highest amount of money left on the table by any provincial government. Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison comments on a report by CCPA senior economist David Macdonald. This op-ed was published in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald.

This Op-ed by Trevor Harrision was published in the Edmonton Journal on September 3, 2020.

Echoing Biblical prophecy, Premier Jason Kenney has repeatedly said Alberta is headed for a “fiscal reckoning.” Finance Minister Travis Toews’ recent grim account of Alberta’s financial plight – a deficit of $24.2 billion and a provincial debt climbing to $99.6 billion – sets the stage for the UCP’s budgetary punishment this fall.

Whether the fall budget will see an honest reckoning or merely a further wrecking of the Alberta economy remains to be seen, but the signs are not hopeful.

This op-ed by Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison appeared in the Edmonton Journal on April 16, 2020.

This op-ed by Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison appeared in the Edmonton Journal on January 25, 2020.

This op-ed by Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison appeared in the Lethbridge Herald on December 4, 2019.

This op-ed by Bob Ascah, Trevor Harrison, and Richard Mueller appeared in the Edmonton Journal on October 11, 2019.

This op-ed by Bob Ascah appeared in the Calgary Herald on October 5, 2019.

This op-ed by Bob Ascah, Trevor Harrison, and Richard Mueller appeared in the Edmonton Journal on September 12, 2019.

This op-ed by Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison appeared in the Lethbridge Herald on May 15, 2019.

This op-ed by Parkland Institute director Trevor Harrison appeared in the Lethbridge Herald on May 1, 2019.