Ian.David

This study evaluates the fiscal year 2006/07 provincial finances for Western Canada and Ontario, using a standardized grading system developed by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS). With this approach, AIMS has evaluated the finances of the Atlantic provinces in three previous studies. Part of the grading methodology involves a retrospective assessment of budget forecast accuracy; this is why this paper assesses budgets for fiscal year 2006/07 that were delivered in the spring of 2006

AIMS latest paper, Could Do Better 3: Grading Atlantic Canada's 2006/2007 Provincial Finances, points out that governments have not learned the lessons of spending restraint and fiscal prudence - and taxpayers will be the ones to pay.