Spending is up, debt is up and taxes are up.

Finance Minister Nate Horner delivered the 2026-27 Alberta budget on Thursday.

SIMS: Alberta budget terrible for taxpayers Back to video

Cabinet ministers were flashing nervous smiles in the legislature while they milled around with the media afterwards.

They should feel queasy, because they’re pushing Alberta’s debt over $100 billion for the first time in the province’s history.

Debt climbing quickly

The government is borrowing $9.4 billion this year.

Last year’s budget pegged the debt at $82.7 billion. This year the debt is on track to hit $108.9 billion. That’s a 31% increase from last year.

This year, interest payments on the debt will cost Albertans $3.4 billion.

The interest cost on the debt this year is equivalent the provincial income tax paid by close to a million Alberta workers.

Next year, the province is forecasting a provincial debt of $123 billion with debt interest charges costing Alberta taxpayers $4.2........

© Edmonton Sun