P.E.I. government projects $94.8M deficit, thanks to inflation and Fiona

Regardless of appreciable bounce-back in some main enterprise sectors on P.E.I. in 2022, the provincial authorities is projecting it would run a deficit of $94.8 million by the tip of the present fiscal 12 months.

That is in accordance with the province’s fiscal update, launched on Thursday.

The brand new determine represents a $1.9-million enhance within the deficit, which was initially projected at $92.9 million in the 2022-2023 Operating Budget released in February.

Among the many causes for the projected deficit are inflation, which has wreaked havoc on P.E.I.’s financial system for months, and dramatic spending after post-tropical storm Fiona swept over the province in September.

The province stated different bigger bills are associated to COVID-19 and the agriculture sector — the latter of which was upended by the invention of potato wart in samples from two Island fields in fall 2021.

“The results of inflation, in addition to restoration efforts following Hurricane Fiona, have had a major impression on the lives of Islanders,” the fiscal replace doc stated.

“The forecasted enhance to the 2022-2023 deficit additionally displays continued transitional help for COVID-19 in addition to programming for the agricultural sector, which continues to be affected by export obstacles for seed potatoes on account of potato wart.”

This fall, the P.E.I. authorities introduced a $58-million relief package, the most important monetary aid package deal within the province’s historical past, following Fiona. Within the fiscal replace this week, the province stated there is a whole $89.2 million for inflation help applications and $81.5 million in prices associated to Fiona response and restoration.

A spokesperson for the province confirmed the $58 million is factored into the expenditure forecast launched Thursday.

Most departments see greater spending

Spending throughout authorities departments is up nearly universally, with just a few exceptions. The largest quantities listed have been: 

• $39.1 million extra for Social Improvement and Housing; 
• $34.3 million for Surroundings, Power and Local weather Motion;
• $28.8 million for Justice and Public Security;
• $17.3 million for Well being and Wellness; and
• $17.2 million for Transportation and Infrastructure.

The province can also be anticipating bigger whole revenues this fiscal 12 months as inflation continues to set information and the inhabitants grows.

“This enhance is pushed primarily from a rise in forecasted gross sales tax, in addition to private and company revenue taxes on account of a stronger than anticipated financial restoration,” the fiscal replace stated.

Drivers of that income leap have been listed because the province’s persevering with transition out of COVID-19 public well being measures, “excessive inflation’s continued persistence, [and] a bigger than anticipated enhance within the inhabitants and extra residents incomes greater than $60,000 yearly.”

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada launched up to date inhabitants information that confirmed Prince Edward Island had 172,707 residents as of Oct. 1, a lift of 1.2 per cent from the earlier quarter.