Ceci optimistic about recovery as critics complain he has no plan

Operating expense growth has been kept to 2.3 per cent, a full point below population plus inflation, and the government expects to find $400 million in operational savings this year.

However, Ceci had few details about where those savings will come from, other than to say the government is finding efficiencies in a “targeted and focused” manner.

“We just can’t do that with the stroke of a pen, we need to do that in a thoughtful way,” Ceci said Wednesday.

“It’s something that takes time and effort to work at achieving downsizing, consolidation, and being more efficient.”

United Conservative Party finance critic Ric McIver slammed Ceci for the lack of specifics.

“(Ceci) has ... no plan aside from crossing his fingers and praying for the price of oil to come back,” McIver said Wednesday.

The Alberta Party and Alberta Liberals also accused Ceci of doing precious little but waiting for an oil-price comeback.

The deficit has been nudged up to $10.54 billion from the $10.49 billion forecasted in Budget 2017, with debt servicing costs increasing by $20 million.

Still, Ceci is optimistic about Alberta’s recovery.

“We’re rocking and rolling,” he said.

“The Alberta economy is doing really, really well. Not all people

The Alberta economy is doing ... really well ... I think it will just get stronger with the plan government has put in place.

are feeling it right now, but I’m encouraged and I think it will just get stronger with the plan government has put in place.”