TORONTO (Standard&Poor's) Oct. 10, 2008--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said it affirmed its 'AAA' long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on the Province of Alberta. We also affirmed the 'AAA' rating on the guaranteed debt outstanding of the Alberta Capital Finance Authority and Alberta Treasury Branch Financial. The outlook is stable. "The ratings on the province reflect Alberta's continuing strong economy and budgetary performances, an extremely low net tax-supported debt burden compared with that of similarly rated domestic and international peers, its strong net creditor status, and the government's conservative and prudent budgetary practices," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Mario Angastiniotis. Larger-than-expected surpluses in the past five fiscal years have punctuated the province's budgetary
