Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews (The Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

deep in the red

Final figures from 2020-21 show Alberta with $17B deficit, over $5B in COVID-19 costs

Jun 30, 2021 | 11:54 AM

EDMONTON – New figures show Alberta’s fight against COVID-19 hit more than $5 billion by the end of the last fiscal year in March.

The money went toward continuing care, hospitals, testing, vaccine distribution, personal protective equipment, and grants and aid for businesses and workers.

The numbers are part of the final report on 2020-21 finances delivered by Finance Minister Travis Toews.

The year ended with a $17-billion deficit on $60 billion in spending.

Taxpayer-supported debt sat at $93 billion.

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The report says the pandemic bludgeoned Alberta’s resource-based economy; real G-D-P fell by 8.2 per cent and unemployment rose to 11.4 per cent.

The province says better times appear to be on the horizon.

Oil prices are rising in the short term and multiple economic forecasts predict Alberta will lead the nation in economic growth in the coming months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2021

The Canadian Press