In fact, the time frame is likely a bit longer. Actually, more than 500 times longer.
The most recent financial reports show natural gas royalties contributed $169 million to BC government revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. However, drilling credits owed producers grew by $161 million in the same period.
Failure to record credits was one of the issues that prevented Auditor General John Doyle from giving an unqualified opinion respecting fairness of the province's financial statements for 2012:
"No provision has been made in the summary financial statements for royalty credits earned by natural gas producers under the government’s deep-well drilling program. In this respect the summary financial statements are not in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards."The unrecorded royalty credits owed to natural gas producers rose from $752 million to $913 million in fiscal 2013. Had the increased liability been recorded, net revenue from natural gas royalties for the year would have been a paltry $8 million.
At that rate, the BC government would pay off the provincial debt in a little over 7,812 years, as long as they don't do any new borrowing. But then, didn't Premier Photo Op just announce a new bridge over the Fraser farmlands?
Great work Mr. Farrell. Now factor in land sales for explorain and drilling rights that have diminished to levels not seen for decades and you and I know why we as a province are broke. With little or no hope for any economic short term future. A very recent announcement by the Minister responsible trumpeted another $115 Million in "royalty credits" to producers. Business geniuses at the helm.
ReplyDeleteMore like educated crooks at the helm!
ReplyDeleteOh goody! We're almost at the point where we can pay the corporate gas extractors to take the stuff off our hands.
ReplyDelete