Not everyone is on the same page with the implications of the Kenney Government's Feb. 27 budget.

The UCP government is feeling optimistic about the recently tabled provincial 2020 budget. It says the deficit is lower than forecast in 2019.

Finance minister Travis Toews says, “Our plan is working. We are on track to balance the budget by 2022-23 and Alberta’s surplus in that year is expected to be higher than that projected in Budget 2019. We are also maintaining funding for health and education while ensuring each dollar is wisely spent on what Albertans need most.”

Former local NDP candidate Steve Durrell sheds a different light on the budget.

"The UCP has overly optimistic projections," says Durrell. "They're predicting a two and a half percent growth in our economy over the next year, but the big banks are saying it's only going to be 0.7 percent. They are also relying upon $58 for a barrel for oil, and that's concerning because today it's only at $45 a barrel, and futures are only at $50 a barrel, which is considerably lower than their predictions. It means we are going to have less revenue, and they won't be able to pay for what they are predicting."

Durrell is concerned that capital projects will be affected, pointing to the example of the Hwy. 22 and 1A intersection. Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie reiterates that the project is in the budget.

Durrell is concerned that if capital funding drys up it could get axed.

"Don't get me wrong, I would love to see it built, and if they (the government) do it that's fantastic. But with the infrastructure spending going the way it is and the fact that it isn't highlighted in the budget and we haven't seen any updates on Alberta Transport documentation, I am concerned for in the future."

As for education, the UCP says it's all good. It has allotted $8.3 billion for education, an increase of $100 million, as school jurisdictions transition to a new funding model by using reserves and own source funding. Flipping the coin, Durrell says, "Downloading a lot of education costs to school boards and expecting them to dip into their reserves in the next year to be able to make ends meet again, that's just not a sustainable model."