In a recent Fraser Institute report, Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Ontario’s Doug Ford ranked highest among Canadian premiers for fiscal performance, with Smith noted for her overall score despite concerns over government spending growth. The study evaluated performance from their time in office until the end of 2024/25, highlighting that Smith’s surpluses were partly due to high resource revenues. Ford, while ranked second, has consistently run operating deficits, indicating a relative rather than absolute fiscal performance. Other notable premiers included Blaine Higgs, Scott Moe, and François Legault, with several leaders performing poorly in managing program spending relative to economic growth.
