EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jim Prentice campaigned on capping the debt and paying it down, but is not directing his finance minister to do any of those things.
Prentice, in his mandate letter to new Finance Minister Robin Campbell, directs him to make sure the budgets are easy to understand.
However, he doesn’t direct Campbell to set up a plan to fast-track a reduction of Alberta’s $10-billion debt or cap the total amount of borrowing.
Prentice promised both during his Progressive Conservative leadership campaign, saying it was time to return the government to fiscal accountability.
Campbell has also been directed to review public sector pensions, monitor investments and deliver regular reports on the provincial savings plans.