Albertans are concerned about the province’s fiscal situation. Budget deficits and a rising provincial debt cast a cloud on Alberta’s future.

The fiscal issues that Alberta faces today are not unique. In the early 1990s, the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan were also running large fiscal deficits and facing rapidly rising public debts. Both governments, under the leadership of Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan and Ralph Klein in Alberta, took bold measures to put their fiscal houses in order. What can we learn from their experience in addressing Alberta’s current fiscal situation?

Join us on September 20th, for a breakfast symposium where some of the key players in those governments—the Finance Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Political Advisors—share their insights into how to address Alberta’s current fiscal situation based on their experiences with those historic fiscal reforms. How did they persuade the cabinet, key community leaders, and the public that fiscal reforms were necessary? How did they determine which programs to cut and how to raise more revenues? What were the main obstacles to implementing the fiscal reforms? With hindsight, what would they have done differently?

The lessons from fiscal reforms of 25 years ago can help guide our current policy makers in developing strategies to tackle Alberta’s current fiscal situation.

Panelists (Roles noted circa 1993 – 1994, see agenda for current roles):

• Jim Dinning, Provincial Treasurer, Alberta
• Janice MacKinnon, Finance Minister, Saskatchewan
• Al O’Brien, Deputy Provincial Treasurer, Management and Control, Alberta
• Paul Taylor, Senior Policy Advisor, Alberta Treasury
• Brian Topp, Deputy Chief of Staff to Premier Row Romanow, Saskatchewan
• John Wright, Deputy Minister of Finance, Saskatchewan

Event Raconteur: Paul Boothe, served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary to Treasury Board, Saskatchewan (1999-2001)

Click here to view the full agenda.

WHERE

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Wedgewood Room
10065 100 Street
Edmonton, AB