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P.E.I. Tables Budget With Record $410 Million Deficit

The budget signals a bet on relief for households over short-term balance.

P.E.I. Finance Minister Jill Burridge delivers a budget speech in the legislature on April 14. The province's budget includes a $410-million deficit.
P.E.I. Finance Minister Jill Burridge delivers a budget speech in the legislature on April 14. The province’s budget includes a $410-million deficit.
Devin Drover, left, Atlantic director and general counsel for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, shown at an Oct. 2 rally outside of Cape Breton Regional Police headquarters in Sydney. Drover panned P.E.I.’s $410 million deficit budget.
P.E.I. Finance Minister Jill Burridge tabled a $410-million deficit budget on April 14.

Overview

  • Finance Minister Jill Burridge introduced a 2026-27 plan that spends about $3.8 billion against roughly $3.4 billion in revenue, creating a $410 million shortfall.
  • The plan sets aside about $321 million for cost-of-living help, including a new $26 million program for low- and middle-income earners, richer child benefits, and $10-a-day daycare support.
  • Health funding rises 14.2% to $1.4 billion with money for 85 long-term care beds, staff recruitment and retention, medication access, and more home care for seniors.
  • The government now pegs last year’s deficit at almost $450 million and projects further shortfalls of $386 million in 2027-28 and $338 million in 2028-29 with net debt nearing $4.9 billion by 2028-29.
  • Liberal and Green leaders criticized the trajectory as overspending that has not produced clear service gains, while the government argues growth pressures and affordability needs justify the outlays.