(Adds Saskatchewan also forecasting deficit)
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Canadian province
of Alberta, which has been hammered by falling crude prices, is
forecasting a record budget deficit of C$5.9 billion ($4.49
billion) this year, a number that could increase to C$6.5
billion, Finance Minister Joe Ceci said on Monday.
Alberta, home to Canada's oil sands and the largest source
of U.S. crude imports, has struggled with a sharp drop in
revenue as global oil prices tumbled over the last 12 months.
The province said it forecast revenue of C$44.3 billion -
about C$1 billion higher than previously projected, in part
because of the newly elected left-leaning NDP government's
decision to increase corporate income tax rates 12 percent from
10 percent.
Spending was also higher than forecast in the first quarter
because of climate-related incidents, including agricultural
drought relief and wildfire fighting costs, according to the
report.
At a news conference, Ceci noted that the numbers were
based on oil price projections from the end of July - prior to a
further dramatic drop in crude - and could be updated in an
upcoming budget, scheduled to be introduced in October.
"We know things are different now and as we go forward to
our budget, we'll be looking at taking all the information to
account and bringing that forward with the October budget," Ceci
said.
He added that the government was looking to balance its
budget by 2018-2019 and was taking steps to diversify the
province's economy so that it would be less susceptible to
volatility in the oil and gas market.
SASKATCHEWAN
Alberta is not the only Canadian province to be affected by
lower oil revenue. Neighboring Saskatchewan on Monday forecast
its first deficit in two decades, citing lower oil prices and
costly forest fires.
Saskatchewan's finance minister, Kevin Doherty, forecast a
C$292 million deficit for the current 2015/16 fiscal year,
compared with a C$106.8 million surplus predicted earlier.
Saskatchewan's revenue is expected to drop by C$237.8
million, to C$14.04 billion, with expenses climbing by C$161
million, to C$14.33 billion.
($1 = 1.3150 Canadian dollars)