Budget highlights

Alberta’s government will ensure the health system is equipped to manage COVID-19 and give patients the care they need. Beyond this, the budget will expand capacity so Alberta is prepared for future extraordinary surges in demand on our system.

• $1.8 billion total increase to Alberta Health’s operating expense budget by 2024-25
• $2.2 billion to build, expand and maintain health facilities
• $100 million per year dedicated to expanding capacity and adding new ICU beds
• $90 million per year to attract new family physicians to rural areas
• $7.5 million over three years to support nurses to move to and work in rural and remote areas
• $750 million to fight the pandemic and address the surgical backlog
• $64 million more for Emergency Medical Services

Alberta Health Services’ operating budget will increase to nearly $15.1 billion in 2022-23, a $476 million or 3.3% increase from the 2021-22 forecast, excluding COVID-19 costs. Strategic priorities such as the Alberta Surgical Initiative and the CT and MRI Access Initiative will reduce wait times and improve healthcare outcomes for Albertans.

The government will continue to follow through on its commitment to provide $140 million over four years to transform the mental health and addictions system. To further increase access, the government is adding $20 million to further implement a recovery-oriented system of care that will offer a coordinated network of community based services and supports.

The budget includes more than $700 million over the next 3 years to give students the resources and supports needed to overcome setbacks due to the pandemic and build their knowledge and skills for a successful future.

Targeted funding of $30 million in 2022-23 and $40 million in each of the following 2 years will ensure schools support students experiencing academic challenges and create school environments supporting student well-being and positive mental health.

The 3-year Capital Plan supports funding of $1.5 billion for school projects, including 15 projects for the construction of new schools, modernizations and design work.

Ventilation improvement projects will be supported with $13 million in 2022-23 for the School Safe Indoor Air initiative.

Other highlights:

• $8.4 billion to $8.5 billion annually in operating expense for kindergarten to grade 12 education over the next 3 years.
• $191 million over the next 3 years for curriculum updates across all subject areas for Kindergarten to Grade 12.
• $59 million will be invested in teacher development and student resources in 2022-23.
• $47 million over 3 years in capital funding and $25 million over 3 years in operating funding to expand charter schools and the collegiate model.
• $3 million over the next 3 years for a system-wide financial literacy program for junior high and high school students
• Expanded vocational education with focused programming in both the skilled trades and fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through the Alberta at Work initiative.

Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs established a 10-year vision for post secondary education.

The government’s new Alberta at Work initiative will support this vision with $171 million over the next 3 years to expand enrolment in areas with skills shortages. About 7,000 additional seats will be created in areas such as high technology (computer science, information technology and data modelling), finance and financial technology, energy (engineering, etc.), health and aviation.

Through the Alberta at Work initiative, the government will also provide:

• $30 million for enhancing apprenticeship programs and opportunities.
• $15 million will help students acquire skills for the emerging technology sectors and other in-demand occupations.
• $6 million to enhance work-integrated learning programs.

In total, the budget includes $209 million for post-secondary infrastructure, including:

• $59 million in new funding to add 50 seats at the University of Calgary veterinary medicine school.
• $41 million in new funding for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology John Ware Building Redevelopment project, which will provide a new center of excellence for the culinary program.

Budget 2022 moves Alberta forward with a package of new post-secondary education, skills training opportunities, and employment programs.

The government is investing more than $600 million over the next 3 years into Alberta at Work. This initiative brings together new and existing programs to build Albertans’ skills to meet current and future labour market demands and, where necessary, attract more skilled workers to the province.

The government will:

• expand training opportunities for Indigenous peoples
• expand reskilling and upskilling opportunities through micro-credentials
• address barriers to employment
• support community agencies such as Women Building Futures and CAREERS: The Next Generation

Alberta continues to have an overall tax advantage compared to all other provinces, with no sales tax, payroll tax or health premium. In 2022‑23, Albertans and Alberta businesses would pay at least $14.8 billion more in taxes if Alberta had the same tax system as any other province. Low overall taxes are an important part of the province’s strategy to encourage investment and job creation, while attracting and retaining skilled labour.

Alberta also has the lowest corporate income tax rate in Canada. The Innovation Employment Grant (IEG) supports small and medium-sized businesses that invest in research and development (R&D).

An Alberta at Work investment of $15 million over the next three years for the Investment and Growth Fund will create a new rural investment attraction stream to attract investment and create jobs.

Child care is essential for supporting Alberta’s workforce and economic growth. Access to high-quality, affordable child care allows parents to participate in training, education or the workforce. The recently signed made-in-Alberta federal-provincial child care agreement will expand affordable and high quality child care to offer Alberta’s families choices and flexibility.

The Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care agreement will support economic growth through the creation of approximately 42,500 new child care spaces. It will provide $666 million in operating expense funding in 2022-23 for a total of over $2.6 billion dollars by 2024-25 to enhance the affordability, accessibility, inclusivity and quality of licensed child care programs.

This investment will lower child care fees for Alberta’s parents by half, on average, by early 2022 and to an average of $10 per day per child by 2026. Investments are also being made into Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care workforce, with funds for professional development, training, supports for staff to obtain higher certification levels and wage top-ups to help recruit and retain highly skilled educators. This support will help ensure the high quality, inclusive and culturally appropriate child care that parents expect.

The budget maintains all funding at the same rates for all seniors’ financial supports. Compared to other provinces, Alberta has one of the lowest poverty rates among seniors.

The government is supporting caregivers and helping seniors stay in their homes longer by increasing funding for community care, continuing care and home care programs. Budget 2022 boosts funding by more than 6.3% for a total of $3.7 billion. More Albertans will get care and support in their communities, thanks to Budget 2022’s commitment to build 1,515 new continuing care beds.

Budget 2022 includes funding of $2 billion for drugs and supplemental benefits, an increase of $110 million or 5.7% from 2021-22. Programs for seniors make up the largest component of this funding, with $674 million budgeted in 2022-23, supporting over 700,000 seniors.

Alberta’s government has a target to attract $1.4 billion in investment, creating more than 2,000 jobs in emerging sectors like hemp, agtech and value-added processing by 2023-24.

To meet that goal, Budget 2022 provides funding of $37 million annually for Results Driven Agriculture Research, which will support producer-driven research to power competitiveness, profitability, productivity and sustainability of the agriculture industry.

The 2022 Capital Plan invests $750 million in agriculture and natural resources projects across the province. This includes $116 million over 3 years to continue expanding Alberta’s irrigation infrastructure.

To address the emerging shortage of large-animal veterinarians in rural Alberta, $59 million over the next 3 years will go toward expanding the veterinary school at the University of Calgary.

The budget includes $15 million for the Investment and Growth Fund, which will create a new rural investment attraction stream to encourage more businesses to set up shop in rural communities and create jobs.

The budget will include $272 million in funding for the Alberta Petrochemical Incentive Program (APIP) which includes. As a key component of the Natural Gas Vision and Strategy, the APIP will turn the province into a top global producer of petrochemicals by offering a direct financial incentive on new or expanded petrochemical manufacturing facilities in Alberta.

The 3-year Capital Plan in the budget includes $10 million for the Clean Hydrogen Centre of Excellence (CH2COE) to support hydrogen innovation and technology. This project will expand opportunities for hydrogen production, use and export, supporting economic growth and job creation, while providing low-emissions energy solutions.

With the release of the Alberta Hydrogen Roadmap, Alberta is presenting a plan of action to create jobs and reduce emissions, and position the province as an international leader in clean hydrogen.

Budget 2022 also provides $41 million over 3 years to the Alberta Energy Regulator to support the establishment of new regulatory frameworks for geothermal and mineral resources.

The budget will also continue to fund the Canadian Energy Centre, whose mandate is to promote Canada as the supplier of choice for the world’s growing demand for responsibly produced energy.

Budget 2022 maintains support for Albertans with disabilities:

• $1.4 billion in total funding for Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH)
• $45 million more for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD)
• $15 million more for Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)