Alberta Premier Jason Kenney Premier Jason Kenney says a recent bump in energy prices in the third quarter of the current budget is helping the bottom line as his government prepares to introduce its 2021-22 budget. The budget deficit was on track to exceed $21 billion this fiscal year, but Kenney said it will now be about $14 billion. Alberta Finance Department officials declined to confirm Kenney’s estimate. It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Alberta’s deficit this fiscal year, which ends March 31. The deficit was predicted to be $6.8 billion when Finance Minister Travis Toews introduced the budget last February. But a global recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an energy price war sent that forecast soaring to $21 billion in November. “Thankfully with significant recovery in energy prices, our revised projection has come down in our last quarterly report to about $14 billion,” Kenney said Tuesday. “You’ll have to wait and see on Thursday for our final projection for the fiscal year that is about to end, but it will be in that range.” Kenney said Thursday’s budget will focus on getting Alberta through the pandemic and getting the economy back on its feet. There will be no […]
CamTrader offers a preview only. View original article. boereport.com