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本帖最后由 爱城闲人 于 2014-12-9 20:36 编辑 # c$ P; R5 W( D7 k* k7 D1 x" [7 k& o
. D' h2 z+ L0 p4 |Premier Says Low Oil Prices Could Leave Hole in Provincial Budget+ l, N0 B8 y! N$ g( F, }& p+ s
Tuesday, December 09, 2014 - Economy, Infrastructure, Oil
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4 o$ P7 `& o7 aThe price of oil hovered around $63 US/barrel Tuesday after one of its worst days in years Tuesday.$ V) c2 q* \* F, w3 V# ~. _
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And Premier Jim Prentice says low prices could leave a $7 billion hole in the province’s budget.) M( k+ p9 e5 A; i$ F
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Prentice gave his “State of the Province” speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
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Two weeks ago, the Premier said the government expected oil prices to end the year between $65 US/barrel and $75 US/barrel. At that time he said low prices would have “consequences for all Albertans.”" a% {9 \8 e- X# \! w( M
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Now, with prices lower than $65 US/barrel, Prentice says low prices could leave a $6-$7 billion hole in Alberta’s $40 billion budget.
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Prentice says the government will have to reduce spending if low prices are sustained. He says across-the-board cuts in spending won’t happen, instead Prentice says his government will focus on core services and limit spending below the rate of growth, plus inflation.
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“It is incumbent on us to adjust our expectations and adjust our spending to begin to mitigate these risks for the long-term. And the solution cannot be to simply wait for the next upswing in prices,” he says.
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Tuesday’s comments come days after a Morgan Stanley report said crude oil prices could drop to $43 US/barrel in 2015 before rebounding.1 U# p* z, X! e0 {0 {& k
s$ F9 Y% ?) \9 S. R4 H* e2 QLast year’s provincial budget was based on a forecasted price of $95 US/barrel.# p/ I* h& ~3 ^2 P
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Prentice says future budgets will rely on much more conservative price estimates.
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“In the long-term, a budget that is tied to to volatile energy prices year-in, year-out represents a significant risk.”( |% g( |, c0 T4 x& z% {4 o3 ?$ J
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Prentice also says the government is not considering a provincial sales tax to cover possible shortfalls from low oil prices.* e. H2 C: S! o" ?% T2 {
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楼主: 辽宁好汉
狗仔卡
发表于 2014-12-9 15:59
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