In recent years, the subject of the government's debt has become more prominent in discussions on public finances. People are concerned by the size of the debt and its growth.
As at March 31, 2016, the gross debt should stand at $207 709 million, equivalent to 55.0% of GDP.
The gross debt represents the sum of the debt issued on financial markets and the net liabilities for the retirement plans and future benefits of government employees from which the balance of the Generations Fund is subtracted. The gross debt does not take into account the government's assets (fixed assets, investments, etc.).
That is why, in addition to the concept of gross debt, the government uses the concepts of net debt and debt representing accumulated deficits. This last concept represents the difference between the government's liabilities and its assets. It represents the “bad debt”, i.e. the debt that does not correspond to an asset.
| Millions of dollars |
% of GDP |
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross debt | 207 709 | 55.0 |
| Less: Financial assets, net of other liabilities | - 20 611 | |
| Net debt | 187 098 | 49.6 |
| Less: Non-financial assets | - 67 368 | |
| Debt representing accumulated deficits | 119 730 | 31.7 |
