Big omissions in #ableg Fiscal Update: no recognition of our main fiscal challenge (reliance on resource revenues) and no indication of how we& #39;ll move forward.

As @RonKneebone so wisely put it: we have a substance abuse problem. Step 1 to overcoming it: admit we have a problem.

Here& #39;s a link to his paper: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/sppp/article/view/42422">https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php... (Read it!!)

Also, note this isn& #39;t a critique of current govt only. Failing to recognize this as a problem is an all-party challenge; former govt did it repeatedly as well.

I& #39;ll add that the province is going to need to consider revenue measures. No, not necessarily sales taxes. Gas taxes, a health levy (payroll tax), taking back CTax revenue, changing PIT rate, etc. Lots of options we should consider.

Why revenue measures? The govt& #39;s spending commitment was to bring spending here in line with other large provinces. A defensible position. But by 2022/23 we& #39;ll have achieved that under current policy. Yet we& #39;ll still have a large deficit that year now.

The options are (1) balance much later (perhaps ~2026 under a continued spending freeze); or (2) increase revenues modestly. I suspect the govt will pick the latter; but I don& #39;t understand why it& #39;s taking so long to start the conversation about this.