This release was issued under a previous government.
The Alberta government is investing in families and communities, living within its means and opening new markets. We are committed to securing our economic future and building a better Alberta.
Building strong, safe communities
- 40 new RCMP officers.
- About 2,000 homeless Albertans will be housed and more than 3,200 emergency/transitional shelter spaces will be funded.
- Two new Aboriginal Women’s councils and other Aboriginal women’s initiatives will be created with a $600,000 investment.
- Highway 63 twinning to Fort McMurray on track for its 2016 completion with a $691 million investment over the next three years.
- 2,500 kilometres of existing provincial highways will be rehabilitated over the next three years – more than two and a half times the distance from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray.
Supporting families, seniors, and vulnerable Albertans
- 44 per cent increase (to $40M) in enhanced homecare and rehabilitation, part of which will be used to help 1,000 more people go home from hospital with enhanced home care support.
- 150,000 low-income seniors will continue to receive benefits.
- 23 per cent increase (to $31M) in special needs assistance for low income seniors for home repairs and medical assistance – this will help ensure this unique program continues to be available to our most vulnerable seniors facing unexpected costs.
- $48 million for new and continued addiction and mental health services.
- About 50,000 Albertans will receive income, health benefits and other supports through Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) so they can live independently.
Putting education first
- Approximately 644,000 Kindergarten to grade 12 students will receive an education using more than $6.5 billion in funding.
- Enrolment in Alberta schools is projected to grow by 3.0 per cent in 2014-15. That’s more than 18,000 new students needing education support.
- About 38,500 Alberta students will share $74 million in scholarship funding – among the most generous funding in Canada.
- 2,000 new full-time spaces throughout the Campus Alberta system in 2014-15.
Growing our economy
- No new taxes or tax increases.
- No payroll tax.
- No capital tax.
- No provincial sales tax.
- No borrowing to deliver programs and services.
Responsible resource development
- 2.76 million tonnes fewer greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 thanks to a $504 million investment over three years in two carbon capture and storage projects.
Accessing new markets
- One new Agriculture and Food Innovation Endowment that will enhance research and develop Alberta’s food-processing industry.
- 1.46 million acres of irrigated land will be maintained with a $21 million infrastructure investment – that’s nearly 5 times the area of Lesser Slave Lake.
- 139,000 tourism jobs and 19,000 businesses will continue to grow with an $82 million investment in promoting tourism for all regions in the province.
Supporting Alberta’s arts, culture and recreation
- 1,000 grants provided to arts and culture organizations annually through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts will be maintained.
- 110,000 Alberta students are expected to participate in heritage programs in 2014-15.
- 77,300 people employed in arts and culture-related industries, representing 3.5 per cent of all those in employment in the province.
Providing health care where and when Albertans need it
- 45 per cent of government operational expense goes to health care.
- 3 new health facilities will receive operational funding:
- South Health Campus in Calgary
- Kaye Edmonton Clinic in Edmonton
- Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park
Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.