In a way, Alberta's buoyant housing market can give thanks to Rachel Notley's NDP government which has refused to go the route of massive public service layoffs to try and improve the province's short term fiscal situation. For example, if the province were to lay off 20,000 nurses, teachers, maintenance workers or other front-line staff, the saving would only be about $2 billion in salaries on a $10 billion deficit. However the laid off employees would receive severance totaling about $1 billion. The 'savings' would be minimal. Each of those laid off workers would be faced with defaulting on mortgages, reduced spending, etc. in a precarious job market. The effect of thousands of homes suddenly coming on the market would depress house prices because of over supply.