Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein announces in 2004 that the province paid off its accumulated debt. Potential windfall resource revenues will bring more money to Alberta coffers, which could position the province to once again pay down, or pay off, its debt.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Trevor Tombe is a professor of economics at the University of Calgary and research fellow at the School of Public Policy
It was two decades ago when Premier Ralph Klein held a “Paid in Full” sign high above his head. “Our debt is dead,” boomed a front-page Calgary Herald article the next day. It could happen again. And sooner than you might expect.
In a few short weeks, Alberta will release its provincial budget for 2023 – the first one from Premier Danielle Smith. New measures to address the rising cost of living, expand health care capacity, and provide pre-election goodies may be on offer. And perhaps the government will reveal details and funding for its long-standing but controversial priorities, including a provincial police force, separate pension plan and tax collection agency.
But beyond the immediate announcements, this budget can set the stage for some big questions around what to do with potentially massive windfall resource revenues. Despite recent oil price declines, such revenues will likely be massive for several years to come. While there are many options, one that should be at or near the top of government priorities is reducing provincial debt.
In a new paper published by the Fraser Institute, I estimate that if oil prices average US$80 per barrel in coming years, then the province’s debt could be eliminated once again by 2030 – a mere seven years from now. The financial savings could be very large. Within a decade, more than $4-billion in annual interest costs could be avoided. In total, the cumulative savings could approach $20-billion by 2030 – costs that Albertans would otherwise be responsible for paying.
More importantly, lower provincial debt ensures the province is well-prepared for the next inevitable shock. Public debt is a shock absorber. It does (and should!) rise during challenging times. The alternative would involve tax increases or spending decreases at a time when neither would be helpful. But the flip side of this coin is equally important. When the fiscal times are good – as they are now for Alberta – debt should be reduced. This logic is particularly important for Alberta; our provincial budget is more volatile than most, so a better shock absorber is required.
Of course, there are risks to my projection. Oil prices are volatile and global economic conditions are uncertain. Over the past year, for example, prices for West Texas Intermediate oil have ranged from roughly US$70 to more than US$120. Such swings have massive implications for the provincial budget. Roughly speaking, each US$1-per-barrel drop reduces the provincial surplus by $600-million.
But even at lower prices, provincial revenues are substantial. At US$75 per barrel, the province’s surplus for the coming year could be nearly $4-billion. At US$85, it could potentially exceed $10-billion. Without deliberate planning and broad public support, however, these surpluses can be quickly spent.
Today, for the first time in many years, Alberta government spending is roughly aligned with that of the other large provinces. Maintaining this position will be important for the province’s fiscal future.
I base my own estimates on the presumption that spending (adjusted for inflation) grows no faster than population. This mandate, given to the current UCP minister of finance, was also broadly the fiscal anchor of the previous NDP government. Such a goal therefore enjoys broad support.
To be clear, eliminating provincial debt is just one option, and there are opportunity costs. Public funds used to lower debt cannot be used for other priorities, such as decreased taxation or increased savings (either of these options would also be preferable to spending away the windfall). I am normally a strong supporter of increased savings. Resource revenues, after all, are not income in the normal sense. We’re simply converting a physical asset that we own (oil) into a financial one. By spending resource royalties, we deplete our wealth.
But for the first time in more than a decade, government borrowing rates exceed the expected return on investment savings. And given mounting global economic and geopolitical risks, the financial gain from lowering debt – in the form of lower interest payments – provides welcome certainty where financial investments do not.
Using windfall revenues to eliminate Alberta’s provincial debt is now worthy of serious consideration. It is also uniquely achievable. And the 2023 budget should set Alberta to do just that.