Hub Podcasts Alberta tried Carney-style budgeting—it backfired
Nov 3, 2025
Felice Chin, Alberta Bureau Chief for The Hub, discusses Alberta's failed Carney-style budget, highlighting its complexity and the ensuing political backlash. Mark Lawson, a seasoned policy advisor, emphasizes the need for swift, transparent project approvals, advocating for a new approach to Canada's permitting process. Meanwhile, commentator Graham Gordon reveals that while Canada invested $158 billion in green initiatives, it resulted in a disappointing 68,000 jobs, raising concerns about the effectiveness of such spending.
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Alberta's Three‑Bucket Budget Failure
- Alberta tried splitting its budget into operating, capital, and savings in 2013 and presented a small operating deficit while borrowing heavily for infrastructure.
- The experiment collapsed within two years after the auditor said it obscured the province's true financial position and the government reverted to a consolidated budget.
Federal Split Budgets Invite Stretching Rules
- Ottawa's proposed split between operating and capital risks the same temptation to stretch definitions when federal 'investments' include tax credits and subsidies.
- Splitting buckets can invite detailed scrutiny and actually undermine credibility rather than restore it.
Fast‑Track Every Project With Unified Permitting
- Mark Lawson urges the federal government to accelerate all approval timelines using the Major Projects Office approach for every project size.
- He recommends a transparent, unified permitting tracker and aligned incentives across federal, provincial, and municipal governments.