Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Leads Canada's Premiers in Fiscal Management Ranking
A comprehensive new study released this week by the Fraser Institute has ranked Alberta Premier Danielle Smith as the most fiscally prudent leader among Canada's premiers. The analysis, which evaluates fiscal performance during the 2024-25 fiscal year, places Smith at the top of the list with a score of 75.6 out of 100.
Study Methodology and Key Findings
The Fraser Institute's assessment scored premiers across three critical categories: government spending, taxes, and deficits and debt. According to study author Jake Fuss, Smith's high ranking was primarily driven by her performance in maintaining Alberta's relatively low tax rates and her management of provincial finances.
"It was her performance on taxes, so largely maintaining Alberta's relatively low taxes, on business tax rates and on personal income tax rates, and then it was also her performance on deficits and debts," Fuss explained to the Toronto Sun. "She was running the largest surplus as a percentage of GDP out of any of the premiers, and she actually decreased that debt during her tenure as a share of the economy."
Top Performers in Fiscal Management
The study reveals a clear hierarchy among Canada's premiers when it comes to fiscal responsibility:
- Danielle Smith (Alberta) - 75.6 points
- Doug Ford (Ontario) - 64.5 points
- Blaine Higgs (former New Brunswick Premier) - Rounding out the top three
Fuss noted that Ford's second-place ranking stemmed from his relative restraint on government spending compared to other premiers, though he performed moderately in other categories. "Ford ranked highly on government spending — not necessarily because he was super restrained with spending, but because he performed better than all the other premiers who weren't as restrained on spending," Fuss added.
Bottom Rankings and Fiscal Challenges
At the opposite end of the spectrum, British Columbia's David Eby ranked eighth, former Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey placed ninth, and Manitoba's Wab Kinew came in last. According to Fuss, these leaders struggled primarily with deficits and debt accumulation.
"The primary reason why those premiers didn't do well was mainly on the deficits and debt category," Fuss stated. "Running deficits throughout their tenure, not only the number of deficits that they're running but also the scale of the amount of debt accumulation they have right now."
Context and Implications
The study provides valuable insight into how Canada's provincial leaders are managing public finances during a period of economic uncertainty. Smith's top ranking reinforces Alberta's reputation for fiscal conservatism, while the varied performance across provinces highlights different approaches to economic management.
Former New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, who lost his seat in the October 2024 provincial election, demonstrated strength in debt reduction despite middle-of-the-pack performance in other areas. "He was second in that category, just behind Danielle Smith, he had largely run surpluses and reduced debt during his time as well," Fuss noted.
This comprehensive assessment comes at a time when fiscal responsibility remains a critical concern for both policymakers and Canadian taxpayers, offering a data-driven perspective on which premiers are most effectively managing provincial resources.
