[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This report says that Alberta public spending is right in line with national averages.

http://parklandinstitute.ca/download...ingTheMyth.pdf

Thanks. Conclusions drawn for those too lazy to open the document:

We have examined several indicators of per capita government
expenditures across the provinces. By neither of two measures does
aggregate government spending in Alberta appear large relative to
that in other provinces. Despite the substantial growth of provincial
revenues since 2000, total provincial spending per capita has been
and is quite average or typical. When comparing major expenditure
categories, we find that only in outlays on education is Alberta even at
the top in per capita spending and even there, Alberta follows behind
Saskatchewan. Most striking given the current cuts to health care is
the fact that per capita health expenditures have been remarkably low
in Alberta.

With Alberta’s high economic growth and monies flowing in from
the rich resource bounty, Alberta should be at the top of per capita
spending on social programs. Instead, this report shows that Alberta’s
spending on social programs in general has been embarrassingly
average. Certainly, Alberta’s level of per capita spending does not
justify cuts to social programs.