New Brunswick government finances officially unsustainable

Due to the pandemic and economic downturn—and the subsequent increased government spending, shrinking economy and lower projected government revenues—the New Brunswick government faces a large budget deficit and rising provincial debt.

Although a relatively low incidence of COVID cases and some spending restraint (relative to other provinces) has left the province with a smaller deficit this year than most other provinces.

More important than this year’s deficit, however, are the long-term fiscal challenges looming over the province. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) recently released an updated report on the sustainability of provincial finances. The results are concerning.

According to the PBO, a government’s policies are sustainable if they result in a province’s debt-to-GDP ratio staying flat or declining with time. If that ratio is on track to keep growing, finances are considered unsustainable. In other words, if debt grows slower (in percentage terms) than the economy, government finances are generally considered sustainable. If debt grows faster than the economy, finances are considered unsustainable.

Unfortunately, according to the PBO, New Brunswick’s finances are not sustainable, with a “fiscal gap” equal to 0.6 per cent of the provincial economy. Put differently, the provincial government would either need to raise revenue or cut spending by this amount (on a permanent basis) to achieve long-term sustainability.

To put the fiscal gap in perspective, this number represents a permanent reduction in annual government program spending of approximately 2.3 per cent or $223 million. In the last budget before the pandemic (2019-20), Finance Minister Ernie Steeves emphasized sustainability as a core objective. That budget expected a third consecutive operating surplus and the first reduction to net debt in more than a decade.

Of course, circumstances have changed significantly since then and the province once again faces a budget deficit. While the pandemic may be far from over, a return to this pre-pandemic policy trajectory can help bring sustainability to provincial finances.

Post-COVID, to begin reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio, the Higgs government should reduce the size of the provincial government, as a decrease in spending will help slow debt accumulation. A smaller government also has less adverse effects on economic growth, which could enhance revenue generation.

This is especially important considering that economic growth is expected to be low in coming years, which is a large reason why New Brunswick is on an unsustainable fiscal track. Indeed, the province has experienced lower growth than the national average in recent years, which has hindered the province’s ability to balance its budget and generate revenue.

If New Brunswick does not restore provincial finances to sustainability, future generations will pay the price for today’s debt accumulation in the form of interest payments on government debt. A rising price tag for debt interest would consume resources otherwise available for priorities including health care, education and pro-growth tax relief. Debt interest payments will already consume an estimated $655 million this year and, all else equal, that number will grow if the province keeps piling up debt.

Clearly, unless the provincial government develops a credible long-term plan to restore fiscal sustainability, future generations of New Brunswickers will pay the price.