Despite an expected increase in oil revenues, Alberta's 2017 budget is again awash in red ink, with a projected deficit of $10.3 billion. This interactive graph depicts Alberta's budget balance, as a percentage of GDP, since 1981:What's different now, however, is the financial trajectory Alberta finds itself on. The provincial government says the rate of debt accumulation will slow, but acknowledges Alberta may lose its nation-leading financial position in the coming years. That amount is expected to improve in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins April 1, but the budget projections still put the amount well below historical levels. By Ceci's projections, it will take until 2023-24 for that plan to return Alberta's finances to a surplus position.

Source: CBC News March 16, 2017 22:07 UTC