Research Update: Province of Alberta Ratings Affirmed At 'A+'; Outlook Remains Stable

One or more of the credit ratings referenced within this article was assigned by deviating from S&P Global Ratings' published criteria, "General Criteria: Methodology For Linking Long-Term and Short-Term Ratings" of April 7, 2017. We believe that the new United Conservative Party (UCP) will change the direction of the Alberta government's fiscal policy and implement a number of measures to restrain spending. We expect that that budgetary performances will improve in the next two years, leading to near-balanced operating results by fiscal 2021 or 2022, though the challenges facing the Province of Alberta's economically important oil and gas sector will continue to weigh on the province's revenues. Accordingly, we are affirming our 'A+' long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt

...- One or more of the credit ratings referenced within this article was assigned by deviating from S&P Global Ratings' published criteria, "General Criteria: Methodology For Linking Long-Term and Short-Term Ratings" of April 7, 2017. - We believe that the new United Conservative Party (UCP) will change the direction of the Alberta government's fiscal policy and implement a number of measures to restrain spending. - We expect that that budgetary performances will improve in the next two years, leading to near-balanced operating results by fiscal 2021 or 2022, though the challenges facing the Province of Alberta's economically important oil and gas sector will continue to weigh on the province's revenues. - Accordingly, we are affirming our 'A+' long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Alberta; affirming our 'A-1+' short-term rating and removing the "under criteria observation" (UCO) designation; and maintaining our stable outlook....

Research Update