To improve public accountability, the government and each government ministry produce an annual report every year. These reports make up the Public Accounts of Alberta and are prepared in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and the Government Accountability Act. The Government of Alberta Annual Report is published in June, and the Ministry Annual Reports are published in September every year.

2005-06 Government of Alberta Annual Report
- Quick Facts

If you would prefer to download the Quick Facts as a pdf file, click here.

• First budget in 12 years that did not have to commit resources to debt reduction, as Alberta eliminated its debt in 2004-05.
  
  
• Alberta recorded a surplus for the twelfth consecutive year. The $8.7 billion surplus was primarily committed to meeting infrastructure requirements and savings.
  
  
• $2.7 billion was deposited in the Heritage Fund and other endowments, including the new advanced education endowment.
  
  
• Revenue was $35.9 billion, $6.3 billion higher than in 2004-05, due primarily to record non-renewable resource revenue, which reached $14.3 billion.
  
  
• Expense was $27.2 billion, $2.9 billion higher than in 2004-05. The increase was mainly due to higher municipal infrastructure support, health and education spending, and natural gas rebates.
  
  
• The Capital Plan supported $3.7 billion in capital projects, an increase of 31.7% from 2004-05, making Alberta’s per capita spending on infrastructure about three times the average of other provinces. This included:
  • $1.1 billion for municipal infrastructure support;
  • $769 million for provincial highways;
  • $631 million for health facilities and equipment;
  • $434 million for school projects and post-secondary
    facilities;
  • $794 million for other support including centennial
    projects, housing, and water infrastructure.
    
    
• Education expense was $6.9 billion, an 8.4% increase from 2004-05. The basic education system benefited from increased funding to hire 435 teachers in the 2005-06 school year to reduce class sizes and retain the 1,250 teachers hired in the previous year. Support for post-secondary facilities was increased by 13.9%.
  
  
• Health expense was $9.7 billion, a 7.2% increase from 2004-05, reflecting higher funding for health services, physician services, prescription drug costs, and information technology systems.
  
  
• $2.7 billion was provided for social services, including increases of 23% for AISH and 27% for seniors benefits.
  
  
• Albertans and Alberta businesses continued to pay the lowest overall provincial taxes in Canada, and $1.3 billion was provided to Albertans through the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate.
  
  
• Alberta's economy grew by an estimated 4.5% in 2005, outperforming every other province for the second consecutive year. The province also had the lowest unemployment rate and the highest personal disposable income per capita among the provinces.

Measuring Up Highlights

As part of the government's commitment to being open and accountable, 2005-06 Measuring Up reports outcomes of various performance measures and strategies established under the 14 goals in the 2005-08 Government of Alberta Business Plan, published as part of Budget 2005.

• 65% of Albertans surveyed rated the overall health system as excellent or good.
  >> Target: 65%
  
  
• 78% of Albertans rated their access to physician services as easy or very easy.
  >> Target: 85%
  
  
• 78% of all students in Grade 9 achieved the acceptable standard on Provincial Achievement Tests
  in Language Arts.
  >> Target: 81%
  
  
• High school completion rate for Albertans aged 25-34 was 91%.
  >> Target: 90% or higher
  
  
• 87% of Albertans aged 25-34 with a post-secondary diploma or certificate were employed.
  >> Target: 88%
  
  
• 79% of Albertans were satisfied that most adult Albertans are able to access the education or training they want.
  >> Target: 73%
  
  
• 95% of schools and 90% of post-secondary facilities were estimated to be in fair or good physical condition.
  >> Target: 95% and 86%
  
  
• Sponsored research at Alberta universities increased by 11.4% to $650.5 million in the past year, and has almost doubled since 2000.
  >> Target: $606 million
  
  
• Albertans had the highest average personal disposable income per capita among the provinces.
  
  
• Alberta had the lowest total provincial and municipal tax load among the provinces.
  
  
• Alberta's three-year average growth rate (real GDP) was 4.0%, the highest among the provinces.
  
  
• Total goods exported grew by 18.5% to an estimated $79.2 billion in 2005.
  
  
• 98.5% of visitors were satisfied with their experiences at provincial historic sites, museums, and interpretive centres.
  >> Target: 99%

The complete 2005-06 Government Annual Report, including Measuring Up and the Consolidated Financial Statements, is available in print form by calling the Alberta Finance Information Line at 427-3035 or toll free at 310-0000, then dial 780-427-3035.

Government of Alberta Annual Reports