When it comes to matching their budgets to actual spending, most Canadian governments are a bit loose with the truth, according to a study by the C.D. Howe Institute.
Over the last 10 years, the provinces and the federal government regularly missed spending targets set in their spring budgets, according to an annual study of fiscal accountability by Colin Busby and William Robson of the independent right-wing think-tank.
The report estimates the cost overruns at a cumulative $47 billion. Some provinces have longer noses than others, with Alberta and Saskatchewan the most likely to spend more by the end of the year than they budgeted — an average of 4-5% annually.
The study finds Ottawa and Ontario have quite transparent financial reporting, both using a clear accounting system that the average voter can understand, but other provinces and territories are not so careful about presenting financial information.
After rating each province on whether it prominently displays one set of revenue, spending and balance figures and makes it easy to compare the budget projections to actual spending, the report awards an 'A' to Ontario and the federal government.
But the Yukon and Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador got very poor marks in the D and D+ range.
Canadian governments, except for Ontario, tended to underpredict revenue by substantial margins, while all but Newfoundland and Labrador tended to spend more than they budgeted, the study found.
The good news is, according to Busby, both Ottawa and the provinces are coming closer to hitting their budgeted income and spending targets in the past five years.
That was true despite the rough ride the economy has given Canada in that period, he said.
Related Stories
