Premier Danielle Smith’s first budget adds health and education spending and forecasts a $2.4 billion surplus

Government of Alberta

Published

3 years ago

12 minute read

Budget 2023 forecasts a surplus of $2.4 billion in 2023-24 and reflects the government decisions to invest in Alberta’s future and provide security for Alberta families and communities.

“Fiscal responsibility matters. It’s been key to achieving our strong fiscal standing and will be essential for sustainable program delivery in the future. In Budget 2023, we continue our commitment to paying down debt all while continuing to position our economy for growth and invest in the top priorities of Albertans.”

Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

Growing jobs and the economy

Budget 2023 advances the province’s already successful Alberta at Work initiative, investing a further $176 million in 2025-26 to help Albertans build their skills and find jobs, and assisting employers in their search for workers in existing and emerging sectors.

A $111-million increase over three years will add seats to expand enrolment in areas with the highest student demand, including non-trade construction, energy, technology and business. Alberta’s government is committed to removing barriers in order to attract highliy skilled professionals and job-creating entrepreneurs to Alberta.

Investments in aviation and aerospace, agri-food manufacturing and $24.5 million this fiscal year to the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy will enhance emerging and innovative technologies, drive economic diversification and attract even more venture capital investments to build on successive record-breaking years. A $54-million per year increase in funding for the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program starting in 2025-26 will support Air Products’ clean hydrogen facility – and continue to make Alberta a global leader in petrochemical production, bring long-term investments and create thousands of construction jobs.

Transforming health care to meet Albertans’ needs

Alberta’s government is setting a new record for spending in health care this year by committing an additional $965 million in operating expense in 2023-24 for the Ministry of Health to continue to build a stronger health-care system for Albertans. This funding will ensure the government can take the urgent action needed to improve ambulance response times, decrease emergency room wait times, reduce wait times for surgeries and attract more front-line health workers to deliver the care patients expect and deserve.

Budget 2023 includes $158 million this year to attract, recruit and train more doctors and nurses to work across the province, with a focus on family physicians for rural areas. Alberta’s primary health-care system is being strengthened and modernized with a record $2 billion over three years. Another $196 million over three years will strengthen emergency medical services and $3.1 billion over three years will modernize and expand health facilities across Alberta, including the Red Deer Regional Hospital and expanding capacity for operating rooms in 15 communities to complete more of the surgeries Albertans are waiting for. An additional $529 million in capital maintenance and renewal funding will be used to keep facilities operational and a further $732 million in self-financed investment will add to health infrastructure.

Supporting Albertans, students and families

With $2.3 billion in affordability measures in 2023-24, $1.5 billion in 2024-25 and another $1.8 billion in 2025-26, Alberta’s government is keeping more money in the pockets of Albertans and continues to provide a helping hand to those in need. New relief measures will save post-secondary students about $18 million each year with lower interest rates for student loans. Adoptive families will have access to more subsidies and tax breaks to make adoption more feasible. Workers in the social services sector will see their wages increased by 10 per cent, so they can continue to provide compassionate services to people with complex needs, those experiencing homelessness or family violence. Albertans will also receive a larger tax credit when they donate to their favourite charities to lend a helping hand.

An increase of $1.8 billion for education will help Alberta’s young people succeed and thrive in smaller classes. This increase will support the hiring of up to 3,000 education staff, including teachers, educational assistants, bus drivers and school support staff to give students the focused time and attention they need to succeed in their studies.

The government is also investing $59.3 million in 2023-24 to create thousands more licensed child-care spaces as part of opening a total of 68,700 new spaces by the end of March 2023, increasing access and choice so parents can go to school, work and participate in the economy. Affordability grants to child-care operators and subsidies for parents will further lower the cost of child care, with the Alberta federal-provincial child-care agreement already reducing fees by an average of 50 per cent in 2022 for young children.

Keeping Albertans and communities safe

All Albertans, families and children have the right to safety and security in their homes, at school, at work and in their communities, no matter where they live.

Budget 2023 keeps communities safe by increasing collaboration between first responders and community partners and increasing access for vulnerable populations to recovery-oriented mental health and addiction supports and services.

$12.5 million in 2023-24 will support the expansion of therapeutic living units within provincial correctional facilities to help inmates access recovery-oriented treatment and recovery programs. This is a joint investment between Mental Health and Addiction and Public Safety and Emergency Services.
$65 million over the next three years will strengthen First Nations policing to address the unique needs of their communities and members. This will secure new policing positions and the creation of another First Nations police service in addition to the Lakeshore Regional Police Service, the Blood Tribe Police Service and Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service.
$20 million over three years is committed to combat human trafficking and ensure necessary resources are provided to survivors and victims.

The province will review options for delivering policing services with the objective of improving the safety and security of Albertans and their property.

Committing to responsible fiscal management

Budget 2023 secures Alberta’s future by staying true to responsible fiscal management and spending hard-earned tax dollars wisely to support Albertans today and tomorrow.

A new fiscal framework would require all future Alberta governments to balance their annual budgets, with certain exceptions, and use any surpluses to first pay down debt and save for the future before investing in one-time initiatives.

Taxpayer-supported debt is being reduced by $14.8 billion between 2021-22 and 2023-24, and the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund is growing by $5.7 billion between 2021-22 and 2025-26. This will bring taxpayer-supported debt to $78.3 billion at the end of 2023-24, and saves Albertans estimated $260 million in this fiscal year and $551 million in 2023-24.

Mandating balanced budgets and tying operating expense increases to population growth and inflation would help control spending to prevent what could be temporarily high resource revenue being used to increase spending in an unsustainable way. Spending decisions instead would be focused on not only meeting the needs and priorities of Albertans but also on continuing to drive change, innovation and improvement of vital services and programs.

Revenue

In 2023-24, total revenue is estimated to be $70.7 billion, which is $5.4 billion lower than the forecast for 2022-23. Commodity prices are expected to soften due to fears of a looming global recession, while investment income is expected to recover well after dropping in 2022-23.
- Revenue is expected to remain above $70 billion in following years. The revenue forecast for 2024-25 is $71.7 billion and for 2025-26 is $72.6 billion.
- In 2023-24, corporate income tax revenue is estimated at $5.9 billion, down 7.8 per cent from 2022-23, largely due to declining commodity prices.
- Non-renewable resource revenue is estimated to be $18.4 billion in 2023-24, down from the highest-ever resource revenue of $27.5 billion forecast in 2022-23.

Expense

Total expense in 2023-24 is $68.3 billion, which is $2.6 billion more than the forecast for 2022-23.
- Total expense is expected to be $69.7 billion in 2024-25 and $71.2 billion in 2025-26.

Surplus

A surplus of $2.4 billion is forecast for 2023-24 compared with $10.4 billion in 2022-23.
- Surpluses of $2 billion and $1.4 billion are forecast for 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively.

Economic outlook

In 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) rose by an estimated 4.8 per cent, which is lower than the budget forecast of 5.4 per cent. The softer growth reflects the impact of higher interest rates and prices on consumer spending and residential investment. Even so, real GDP fully recovered from the COVID-19 downturn and surpassed the 2014 peak in 2022.
In 2023, real GDP is expected to grow by 2.8 per cent, up slightly from the 2.7 per cent growth forecast at mid-year.

Energy and economic assumptions, 2023-24

West Texas Intermediate oil (USD/bbl) $79.00
Western Canadian Select @ Hardisty (CND/bbl) $78.00
Light-heavy differential (USD/bbl) $19.50
Natural gas (CND/GJ) $4.10
Convention crude production (000s barrels/day) 497
Raw bitumen production (000s barrels/day) 3,345
Canadian dollar exchange rate (USD/CDN) $76.20
Interest rate (10-year Canada bonds, per cent) 3.60

Budget 2023 secures Alberta’s bright future by transforming the health-care system to meet people’s needs, supporting Albertans with the high cost of living, keeping our communities safe and driving the economy with more jobs, quality education and continued diversification.

Government of Alberta

This is a news release from the Government of Alberta.

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Thousands of Albertans march to demand independence from Canada

Published on October 28, 2025

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Thousands of Albertans marched upon the province’s capital of Edmonton this past Saturday in the “I Am Alberta Rally,” calling for the province to immediately secede from Canada in light of increasing frustration with the Liberal federal government.

The rally saw an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people march on the steps of the Alberta legislative building, demanding that a referendum be held at once to allow Alberta to leave Canada.

“We can’t delay. We can’t slow down,” well-known freedom lawyer Keith Wilson said at the rally as he spoke to the crowd.

“This is our moment. This is our future. For our families, for our children, for Alberta. Alberta will be free.”

The group behind the rally, the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), bills itself as a sovereignty advocacy group. As reported by LifeSiteNews earlier this year, the APP wants to put Alberta independence to a question to the people via a referendum.

The rally also comes after certain members affiliated with the APP such as Jeffrey Rath and Dr. Dennis Modry earlier the month met in Washington, D.C. with cabinet-level U.S. politicians to discuss Alberta’s potential independence from Canada.

U.S. President Donald Trump has routinely suggested that Canada become an American state in recent months, often making such statements while talking about or implementing trade tariffs on Canadian goods.

The APP on July 4 applied for a citizen-led petition presented to Elections Alberta that asks, “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?”

The group is hoping to have the referendum on the ballot as early as next year and has accused the Liberal federal government of encroaching on Alberta’s ability to manage its own affairs.”

As it stands now, the referendum question has been referred to the courts to see whether or not it can proceed.

Alberta Conservative Premier Danielle Smith does not support a fully independent Alberta. However, she does advocate for the province to have more autonomy from Ottawa.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Smith said her conservative government will allow but not support a citizen-led referendum on independence.

Despite not advocating for an outright separate Alberta, Smith’s government has not stood still when it comes to increasing provincial autonomy.

Smith’s United Conservative government earlier this year passed Bill 54, which sets the groundwork for possible independence referendums by making such votes easier to trigger. The bill lowers the signature threshold from 600,000 to 177,000.

As reported by LifeSiteNews last week, Smith’s government introduced a new law to protect “constitutional rights” that would allow it to essentially ignore International Agreements, including those by the World Health Organization (WHO), signed by the federal Liberal government.

The calls for independence have grown since Liberal leader Mark Carney defeated Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre.

Carney, like former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before him, said he is opposed to new pipeline projects that would allow Alberta oil and gas to be unleashed. Also, his green agenda, like Trudeau’s, is at odds with Alberta’s main economic driver, its oil and gas industry.

Alberta

Premier Smith sending teachers back to school and setting up classroom complexity task force

Published on October 28, 2025

Government of Alberta

Taking action on classroom complexity

As schools reopen, Alberta’s government is taking action by appointing a class size and complexity task force to meet the challenge of increasingly complex classrooms.

Across Alberta, teachers are seeing more students with diverse learning needs and behavioural challenges, while incidents of classroom aggression are rising. To address these challenges head on, and in response to concerns raised by teachers, Alberta’s government will be appointing a Class Size and Complexity Task Force.

We recently formed the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team to identify practical classroom focused solutions. Alberta’s government has received the action team’s draft final report and will use its recommendations to create a roadmap for safer classrooms. Alberta’s government will release the final report, and the task force will implement solutions, work with school boards to gather more data on classroom complexity and begin work to replace the 2004 Standards for Special Education.

“Teachers have made it clear that addressing classroom complexity and safety are among the most critical improvements needed in our education system. We are taking real action to meet those needs by strengthening classroom supports, hiring more teachers and educational assistants, and acting on the recommendations of the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team. Parents, teachers and students all want the same thing – safe and supportive classrooms where every child can succeed.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

Teachers are vital to the success of Alberta’s education system. Over the next three years, school boards will be provided with funding to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 new education assistants to support students with complex needs. These funds may also be allocated to additional student support through assessments for complex needs, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech-language pathology, and other in-the-classroom supports.

“No teacher should ever be harmed while doing their job. We know that aggressive incidents have gone up sharply in recent years, and classrooms are becoming more complex. That’s why we’re doubling down on efforts to make classrooms safer and to give extra support to students who need it. Our goal is to create learning environments where every student can succeed.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare

In November, Alberta’s government will work with school boards to gather information and data about class sizes and composition to ensure students are receiving the support they need. Information will be made available as soon as it is available and will be released annually thereafter.

Quick facts

Between July and September 2025, the action team conducted engagement sessions with teachers, education partners and school boards through in-person and virtual sessions.
- This included front-line educators, families, disability organizations, community agencies, early learning experts and social service professionals.
Budget 2025 included $55 million to help address classroom complexity – a 20 per cent increase from the previous year.

Getting Alberta’s kids back to school

If passed, Bill 2, the Back to School Act, will restore stability in Alberta’s education system and ensure students can return to learning without further disruption.

The ongoing teachers’ strike has disrupted classrooms across Alberta, setting back student learning and deepening achievement gaps. Each day schools remain closed, students lose critical instructional time, routine and support. This proposed legislation will end the strike and establish reasonable terms for a new teacher collective agreement.

“This strike has gone on long enough. It’s clear there’s no path forward unless we act. The Back to School Act refocuses everyone on what matters most, the education of Alberta’s students. Bill 2 puts students back at the centre of our system, while we continue to work with teachers and families to build lasting stability in Alberta’s schools.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

The Back to School Act legislates the terms of the September 2025 tentative agreement, which provided a 12 per cent salary increase over four years, additional market adjustments of up to 17 per cent for most teachers, and the hiring of 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants. The collective agreement will be in effect from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028.

“The time for labour stability is now. This legislation provides a positive path forward despite an interrupted school year. This is a necessary step and the most responsible decision for kids, teachers and parents. If Bill 2 is passed, it is my hope that classes will resume as soon as Wednesday, October 29.”

Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

The last deal put on the table by the Alberta Teachers’ Association demanded an additional $2 billion from government. This was a clear display that the union had no intention to bargain in a reasonable manner with the government and present a fair offer.

“We believe invoking the notwithstanding clause is a necessary measure to end the undue hardship caused by the teacher strike. This strike has reached a point that is causing irreparable harm on student learning. Our government will not hesitate to use every available legal tool in defence of students.”

Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

This legislation is the only responsible path forward to restore stability, protect students and ensure Alberta’s classrooms focus back on learning. Alberta’s government remains fully committed to strengthening the education system, supporting teachers, and putting the success and well-being of students at the heart of every decision made.

Key facts

Bill 2 would end the province-wide teachers’ strike and legislates a new collective agreement.
The agreement covers Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028 and provides:
- A 12 per cent salary increase over four years.
- Additional market adjustments of up to 17 per cent for 95 per cent of members.
- 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 educational assistants to reduce class sizes and enhance support.
These terms reflect the September 2025 tentative agreement recommended by the Alberta Teachers’ Association leadership.
The legislation includes financial penalties for non-compliance and suspends local bargaining during the agreement to ensure labour stability through 2028.