People in Newfoundland and Labrador have the highest rates of government debt in Canada, according to a new study from the Fraser Institute.

The study, which looks at combined federal-provincial debt, shows that the debt per capita in this province is over $67,400.

Associate Director of the Fraser Institute’s Atlantic Canada Prosperity Initiative, Alex Whalen, says the province’s net debt has been growing over time. That, combined with the federal shares, leads to the per person burden.

The way to bring the per person debt down, Whalen states, is for the province to balance the books.

While the deficit has been reduced in recent years, he says government has more to do.

He says the provincial government tends to raise spending year-over-year, and what will help drive down debt over the long-term is spending control.