The premier is assuring that more affordability measures are in the works as government benefits from revenue generated from rising oil prices.

The provincial budget set a benchmark oil price of US $79 per barrel in its forecast. As of Friday, Brent Crude was fetching in the range of US $103 a barrel after peaking well above $130 in the spring.

As of last month, Finance Minister Craig Pardy indicated that the province could benefit to the tune of $500 million because of the rising price of oil.

Premier Tony Wakeham says because of that, he’s expecting further affordability measures later this fall.

“I don’t know if it’s exact numbers yet, but I know that obviously when the price of oil stays above $100, it continues to grow. And that’s something that we’re very conscious of.

“It’s unfortunate that we find ourselves in a position as a province where, the last 10 years, the government actually put more towards the debt than any other premiers, all premiers combined since Confederation. We doubled our debt. So, we’re sitting at $20 billion, which is not sustainable.”

Wakeham says he plans on using 80 per cent of the revenue to pay down government debt.