"This is a major milestone for Albertans," Premier Ralph Klein says. "When I became premier in 1992, Albertans told me they wanted the debt wiped out as quickly as possible. This government has made great strides toward that with today's announcement. Now we're focused on paying off the remaining debt through the Fiscal Responsibility Act."

In other developments, the Alberta Youth Employment Strategy aims to increase youth employment and ensure that more young people get career training that prepares them for a rewarding future in the workplace.

British Columbia: Some $20 million per year will be allocated to a new program intended to boost the development of high-tech industry in British Columbia.

The program includes a 10 percent research and development tax credit applicable to large and small firms, plus a skills development program to attract the best teachers and students to the province's colleges and universities. Additionally, a co-op program will enable some 2,000 students to get on-the-job training.

Manitoba: For the fifth straight year, Manitoba has a balanced budget. But tax cuts and tax credits are helping boost the province's business climate further. For instance, the personal income tax rate will be cut by 3 percent by January 2000. The small business income tax rate will be cut to 5 percent (from the previous 9 percent) by the year 2002 to help small firms expand.

The 10 percent Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit has been extended to the year 2003, and the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit has been extended to 2002.

New Brunswick: New Brunswick's 1999-2000 budget will be the province's fifth consecutive balanced budget. In fact, the province expects to record its fifth consecutive budgeted surplus. Representatives of the federal and provincial governments recently signed a two-year extension of the Canada/New Brunswick Regional Economic Development Agreement, an initiative to expand New Brunswick's economic base and improve provincial competitiveness.

New Brunswick and Maine officials have begun planning a new St.-Stephen-Calais border crossing, the eighth-busiest on the Canadian-U.S. border.

Newfoundland/Labrador: The province has launched Success~Works, an interactive client information system that gives prospective businesses a full range of information, programs and contacts. The system will be available via www.success.nfld.net.

In other moves, NewfoundJobs -- a new $1.3 million employment program -- will help 500 income-support recipients enter or re-enter the labor market and find long-term, sustainable jobs.

Nova Scotia: The centerpiece of Nova Scotia's 1999-2000 budget is a $400 million Health Investment Fund to enhance the quality of care and improve the efficiency of the health-care system.

In education, an additional $26 million will go to the public school system for teachers and leases for new schools.

Other key moves include the establishment of new enterprise zones outside Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Lower Sackville, and a two-year extension of the film tax credit.

Ontario: A 20 percent reduction in personal income tax rates is Ontario's chief 1999 business-boosting measure.

The tax cut reduces Ontario's income tax rate to 38.5 percent of the basic federal tax. Already the lowest in Canada, Ontario's tax rate will be reduced to 32.5 percent of the basic federal tax when future planned reductions are made.

Combined with the 30 percent tax cut already put in place, a family making $40,000 will keep $1,410 more than before Ontario started cutting income taxes several years ago, Premier Mike Harris says.

Prince Edward Island: The province's successful Small Business Employee Support Program has been extended for another year. The program will aim to match 250 Islanders with local employers, create new jobs and enhance skill levels.

In response to the growing demand for aerospace workers in the province, Holland College has expanded to include a $3.7 million Aerospace and Industrial Technology Center.

Quebec: In a major achievement, Quebec has balanced its budget -- for the first time in 40 years. The province's strong economic growth enabled Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Bernard Landry to announce in March 1999 that the budget deficit had been wiped out a full year ahead of schedule.

With the zero deficit achieved, the government now plans to make large new investments in health, education and employment. Provincial officials also plan to pursue a reduction in personal income tax.

Saskatchewan: The new Forest Resources Management Act places a priority on environmental sustainability of forestry practices. On the heels of that new law, provincial officials announced a $570 million expansion of the forestry industry, with particularly large investments slated by Weyerhaeuser, among other firms.