CALGARY – A debt-free government that doesn’t meddle in citizens’ lives has been termed the “Alberta Advantage” by premier Ralph Klein. But a group of economists want to find out if the advantage is real or mythical.
Three economists from the University of Calgary have received $130,000 from the privately funded Donner Canadian Foundation to study the Alberta experience to see if the advantage is real.
The government has vowed to balance its budget next year and start paying down its debt, projected at $33.6 billion by March 1996.
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In a public opinion poll as part of the study, people will be asked where they think cuts should occur and to comment on the government’s current popularity of about 60 percent.
“One of the questions will be ‘why do you like Ralph so much when he’s doing these things to you?'” said economist Ron Kneebone.
Kneebone and two of his colleauges will co-ordinate nine economists and two political scientists from Calgary and the University of Alberta in Edmonton for the study.
The economists intend to focus on the hardest hit among government departments of health, social services, education and advanced education. Over the next three months the research team will interview government officials, the premier, cabinet members and civil servants. Public opinion polls will also interview taxpayers to see how they have fared under the cost-cutting regime.
They also want to talk to agencies that made cuts, taking into account whether they are government-appointed boards like regional health authorities or elected bodies such as school boards.
Initial results will be released this fall.
