Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci says next week's provincial budget will be "a shock absorber in these tough economic times," as the province faces a $10 billion deficit in the wake of plunging oil prices.

The NDP government plans to "constrain spending without compromising programs" in its 2016 budget, Ceci told an audience at the Canadian Club of Calgary.

"Our goal is to hold budgetary increases to below population growth plus inflation levels," he said, less than a week before Thursday's budget announcement.

• Joe Ceci promises 'shock absorber' budget for Alberta, No 'knee-jerk' cuts to hospital and schools, finance minister tells Calgary crowd - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ceci-canadian-club-calgary-1.3527382