Jason Nixon is Premier Danielle Smith’s new budget boss.

Nixon is not shy about saying what’s on his mind. This is a good thing.

Nixon starts right off saying he believes in the principle that Albertans deserve to share in some of the windfall dollars the Alberta government scores from high oil prices. This is also a good thing.

Back in the day that’s what Ralph Bucks was all about, the $400 cheque for each Albertan.

The provincial government led by then-premier Ralph Klein scored a big surplus and took about one in five dollars from the surplus and put it toward Ralph Bucks, a direct payout to the people.

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Fun fact. Two guys from the Calgary Sun, Chris Nelson and your humble scribbler, coined the term Ralph Bucks. Much catchier than calling it a prosperity bonus.

Right off the top, Smith’s budget boss cautions Albertans. The provincial government does not have a surplus yet.

“What we’ve got to do is make sure we’re not gambling with the money of Albertans on projections we can’t trust yet,” says Nixon.

“I’m not going to make a bet with the money of Albertans without proper projections. I’m just not........

© Calgary Herald