Candian provinces and territories tabled their respective budgets over the last few months, with high investments in healthcare, economic recovery and strategies to fight the pandemic, while projecting years of post-pandemic deficits at the same time. For the most part, investments in technology haven’t been neglected, with most provincial governments highlighting technology and innovation as a key to economic recovery and proper healthcare. We’ve taken a look at the recently tabled budgets and zeroed in on the technology and innovation investments. Here’s what we found.
The government of Ontario tabled its 2021 budget on March 24, 2021. While the current budget mainly focuses on protecting people’s health and jobs through the ongoing pandemic, and the majority of the measures still part of the province’s first pandemic budget from five months ago, it includes the following new tech-related investments:
New Brunswick’s 2021-22 budget was tabled on March 16. The government projected a deficit of $12.7 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year, compared to a $92.4 million surplus projected for the same fiscal year in the previous budget. This year, the province is pumping money into the following areas related to tech and innovation:
Alberta’s economic outlook is slightly more positive than the late 2020 predictions originally indicated. While Alberta says its revenue has been negatively impacted by the pandemic – in addition to the reduced energy demand – it is starting to grow again. An $18.2 billion deficit is targeted for 2021–22, $2 billion less than the 2020–21 forecast, and the economy is now expected to reach pre-COVID levels in 2022. As part of the new budget, the provincial government has committed a total of $500 million to economic recovery. But the recovery doesn’t stop there, and technology will play a big part. More technology investments as follows:
Nova Scotia’s budget 2021-22 was tabled on March 25, wherein the government estimated a deficit of $584.9 million with revenue of $11.8 billion and expenses, after consolidation adjustments of $12.4 billion. This year, the province included the following budget items tied to tech and innovation:
Manitoba’s budget 2021 was tabled on April 7, with the province projecting a deficit of $1.59 billion for the year, an improvement from the third quarter projection for 2020-21 of $2.08 billion. In March 2021, the province also announced that it is investing over $6.5 million over three years to help modernize the information and communication technology used in healthcare facilities. The latest budget focuses on protecting Manitobans through the ongoing pandemic, advancing jobs and economic recovery. It includes more than $62 million to help businesses retrain employees and develop e-commerce platforms and $25 million for youth job programs. Here’s what’s in for technology and innovation:
The Nunavut government tabled a $2.4 billion budget on Feb. 23, 2021. The government of Nunavut forecasts $2.39 million in revenues, $2.02 million in spendings on programs in 2021-22. The government also noted it is setting aside an additional $75 million to manage supplementary spending requirements over the year, forecasting an operational deficit of $14.3 million in 2021-22, assuming the $75 million set aside for contingencies is fully spent. The territory’s tabled budget also includes a $5.8 million investment to continue to secure and strengthen computer networks.
The province tabled its budget 2021-22 on March 12, outlining $2.5 billion in spending for programs to assist Islanders, businesses, and industry recover from COVID-19. With revenues forecasted at $2.4 billion and planned spending of $2.5 billion, the province expects a deficit of approximately $112 million. It’s also making the following investments in tech: On April 1, Prince Edward Island announced the new Innovation PEI program to support Island businesses, including an innovation fund to assist businesses in bringing a new product, service, or process to market. The fund provides up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $50,000 in assistance per approved project.
The Québec government tabled its budget 2021-22 on March 25. In addition to planning for major investments in education and higher education, this year’s budget proposed initiatives totalling $4 billion over the next five years to spur business investment and boost productivity across the province to accelerate economic growth. Some of the major investments in tech and innovation include:
The Yukon government tabled its budget 2021-22 on March 4, saying it plans to spend $434.3 million on capital projects, a 17 per cent rise in spending from last year’s budget. The government forecasts a $12.7 million deficit in its $1.79 billion budget, with the COVID-19 pandemic blowing apart its $4.1 million surplus last year. Specific mention of tech in its budget was limited to the following: The government says it’s making these investments to increase the ease, efficiency, and transparency with which Yukoners access services and agencies deliver services. In 2021–22, this includes health systems expansion and the Dempster Fibre project.
British Columbia is expected to table its budget on April 20, according to Victoria News. The Canadian Press has reported that Newfoundland is expected to table its next fiscal budget in June. We’ll update this slide once those budgets are tabled.
2021-22 budget – Canadian provinces and territories
Ontario
New Brunswick
Alberta
Nova Scotia
Manitoba
Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Québec
Yukon
British Columbia and Newfoundland
Budget breakdown: Where are provinces and territories investing in tech and innovation?
