Fiscal History Archives - Page 5 of 5

25May

By Bob Ascah2 Comments

Economic Data, Fiscal History, Intergovernmental

Hyndman Papers

Alberta's Contribution to Confederation circa 1980 In August 1980, Alberta intergovernmental relations were heating up as the earlier Mellon memo attested to. The National Energy Program was about two months away from release, a release that would fuel the flames of western separatism. Concerns were festering in Alberta about the cost-benefits of remaining in Confederation. In the Briefing Note below, authored by Treasury officials in the Fiscal Policy and Economic Analysis Division documented the inflows and outflows to and from the federal Treasury over a 16-year period. The Table below summarizes two tables from the paper- the cumulative totals for provinces and a combined B.C., Yukon, and North West Territories and the discounted cumulative totals. The information was derived...

Reset for federal-provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements? Opinion

17Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Fiscal History, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research

Reset for federal-provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements? Opinion

It is cliché to say we are living in extraordinary times. Comparisons with the Global Financial Crisis doesn’t work, although monetary madness is again afoot. For Alberta, there are comparisons with the 1980s when homes were sold for a dollar, allowing mortgagors to walk away. And of course, there is the Great Depression, which devastated all of Canada and left lasting resonance on how people related to others, to governments, and to money. So now, we are in a time of both crisis and reflection. Should governments (national and sub-national) be co-operating or competing? We know the beggar thy neighbour policies of the Great Depression did not work, but our next-door neighbour seems intent to draw up the bridges on the castle. In Canada, we are in in a period of inter-governmental co-oper...

3Feb

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Energy, Fiscal History

Syncrude Royalties- Hyndman’s papers

In the mid-1970s, major efforts were made by the Alberta government to support the expansion of oilsands production. Up until this time, Great Canadian Oil Sands (GCOS), operated by Sunoco, was the only source of commercial bitumen. With the rapid increase of oil prices in 1973, the provincial government encouraged the development of a consortium involving private and public funds. Construction began in 1973 and production commenced in 1978. Between February 1975 to March 1980, the Alberta government had cumulatively advanced $281.8 million to the project of a total cost of $2.875 billion. Prior to 10 March 1980, the Province sold some of its interest to Alberta Energy Company for $54.9 million and had received cash receipts of $48.1 million from the sale of its entitlement of syntheti...

2Mar

By albertarecessionwatchNo Comments

Budget, Fiscal History, Opinion/Research

And then there were none: Pros and Cons of a Sales Tax

Originally posted 2 March 2018 Economics Society of Northern Alberta hosts debate on sales tax All MLAs invited -but all missing in action Key obstacle is public's perception that governments will just waste the money Will a crisis tilt Alberta to new massive cuts or a sales tax? Are Alberta public sector workers overpaid? Relative to whom? (more…)