Alberta Releasing Updated Budget Numbers With Oil Cash Well Below Projections

The Canadian Press, 24 Feb, 2016 11:09 AM

EDMONTON — Albertans may be in for a bit of more bad news today when the provincial government releases its third-quarter budget update.

The province is on track to rack up a $6.1-billion deficit this year due to the collapse in oil prices.

However, in recent weeks Finance Minister Joe Ceci has declined to confirm the province will still be able to meet that deficit figure.

The budget is based on benchmark oil averaging US$50 a barrel this fiscal year.

But oil has been well below that figure for months and currently sits just over US$30 a barrel.

Next year's budget is coming in the spring legislature session, but Ceci has not announced a date.

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