Following the release of the 2023 Alberta Budget on Tuesday, many residents of Lac St.Anne County and the surrounding area wondering what benefits it might have for the region.
MLA for Lac St. Anne-Parkland, Shane Getson, comments on what benefits residents can expect to see.
“Well the great news with this budget is it’s going to effect all Albertans equally in the sense that it is going to be two major priorities for us. One is securing Alberta’s future and the other one is standing up for Albertans. It’s going to get on the jobs and economy file pretty hard and really help out in those areas. Infrastructure, economic corridors obviously, plus health care reform, we have some dollars going there and education. We are going to see an uptick in education for the first time in a few years. ”
Alberta’s government says it is providing another year of record-high investment, with $24.5 billion in the Ministry of Health’s operating expense this year, a reported increase of 4.1 per cent from last year. Officials say this new funding will focus on addressing areas of priority in the Healthcare Action Plan to improve health-care services Albertans expect and deserve. In addition, officials say Alberta’s primary health-care system is being strengthened and modernized with a record investment of $243 million over three years.
Finance Minister, Travis Toews, further comments on the intended benefits for the region.
“We’re increasing the capital maintenance renewal budget. The largest increase is for transportation and so right across the province including Highway 43, there will be increased funding for surface repair and in some cases, full service replacement. We’ve seen a fair bit of work done on that highway over the course of the last couple of years, that work will continue and be accelerated.”
Furthermore, officials say the budget 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.
Elsewhere, officials say 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 says it is committed to removing barriers in order to attract highly skilled professionals and job-creating entrepreneurs to Alberta.
Government officials say the budget also funds ongoing programs and services that support Albertans and builds on Alberta’s Affordability Action Plan, expanding relief for high utility costs and providing new measures for students, workers in the social services and disability sectors, and in continuing care.
Alberta’s government says it is permanently extending the Natural Gas Rebate Program and moving forward, whenever natural gas prices exceed $6.50 per gigajoule, the rebate will take effect.
