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
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