Implementing Budget 2026

Amendments increase Alberta’s tourism levy rate to 6% from 4%, on the price of temporary accommodations such as hotels and lodging providers in Alberta. The new rate takes effect April 1, 2026.

The tourism levy is paid into the General Revenue Fund, which funds government programs and services, including a wide variety of tourism-related activities in the province.

Amendments:

• consolidate the existing caregiver credit and infirm dependant credit into a single, consolidated Alberta Caregiver Credit
• keep the same credit amount and phase-out threshold as the existing caregiver credit, while keeping the credit non-refundable
• allow taxpayers to claim a credit in respect of an infirm spouse, but not in respect of healthy parents or grandparents over the age of 65 who live with them
• establish the new credit January 1, 2027

The changes align Alberta with the federal government, as well as Ontario and BC, which consolidated similar credits.

Amendments:

• modernize pension legislation
• improve alignment between provinces to support administration of pension plans, particularly pension plans offered by employers who operate across different provinces

The changes modernize Alberta’s pension legislation to better align with other jurisdictions.

Amendments:

• reduce potential conflicts of interest by prohibiting directors of an entity affiliated with a loan and trust corporation from serving on the corporation’s board
• clarify that dividends can only be paid from profits, which promotes the financial stability of loan and trust corporations
• enhance information sharing by allowing information to be shared with self-regulatory organizations in Canada, such as the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization

The changes address regulatory and administrative inefficiencies and improve governance.

Amendments:

• allow the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation (CUDGC), as the regulator of the credit union system, to set liquidity standards
• enhance and modernize communication options for credit unions so emails and other virtual communications can be used instead of paper mail-outs
• enhance the administrative monetary penalties framework by expanding its application to additional reporting and information requirements and allowing CUDGC, in addition to the minister, to apply penalties directly
• increase CUDGC’s supervisory and regulatory powers to conduct examinations and obtain information, including in relation to credit union partnerships and joint ventures

The changes reduce regulatory inefficiencies and align Alberta with emerging best practices.

Amendments address the discontinuation of the Child and Youth Support Program.

• The program was discontinued on September 1, 2025, as directed by the Productivity Review Cabinet Committee and part of Budget 2025.
• Regulatory amendments (Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Regulation) to support were enacted on September 1, 2025.

The changes mitigate the legal risk of retaining authority in the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act for a discontinued program.

Amendments clarify that a data centre’s levy rate will be calculated based on actual power consumption and that power not drawn from the broader grid will be eligible for a 0% rate.

With these changes, the levy rate calculation is determined by actual consumption of public electricity rather than by grid connection.