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本帖最后由 爱城闲人 于 2014-12-9 20:36 编辑
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: _6 H# M( r2 E7 A: z" xPremier Says Low Oil Prices Could Leave Hole in Provincial Budget
1 f8 h" `) [' m" zTuesday, December 09, 2014 - Economy, Infrastructure, Oil
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The price of oil hovered around $63 US/barrel Tuesday after one of its worst days in years Tuesday.+ Q- B; u' r& d
" C$ C7 }8 I( cAnd Premier Jim Prentice says low prices could leave a $7 billion hole in the province’s budget.
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/ \6 S% x. q n' c' ZPrentice 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.”! [" o% h+ ]% b
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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 $40 billion budget.8 W `; F @7 F
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Prentice says the government will have to reduce spending if low prices are sustained. He says across-the-board cuts in spending won’t happen, instead Prentice says his government will focus on core services and limit spending below the rate of growth, plus inflation.
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“It is incumbent on us to adjust our expectations and adjust our spending to begin to mitigate these risks for the long-term. And the solution cannot be to simply wait for the next upswing in prices,” he says.' p) Y8 X$ P& q, i
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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.
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Last year’s provincial budget was based on a forecasted price of $95 US/barrel.( g) b& w3 U5 q% E4 X5 z
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Prentice says future budgets will rely on much more conservative price estimates.1 a. ]; d+ [1 _( u% g- b# V
3 I1 |, @- M; n“In the long-term, a budget that is tied to to volatile energy prices year-in, year-out represents a significant risk.”5 `% _2 W \7 m3 N
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Prentice also says the government is not considering a provincial sales tax to cover possible shortfalls from low oil prices.1 i: U/ ?* V5 V$ g
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楼主: 辽宁好汉
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发表于 2014-12-9 15:59
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