Budget 2009: Building on our Strength

A message from Premier Ed Stelmach

Alberta's Budget 2009 is a plan to manage through these challenging times to the inevitable recovery, without sacrificing our long-term vision for the prosperous future Albertans have worked so hard to create. We’ve listened to Albertans and consulted widely with industry, with municipalities and with business groups. The result is a practical, sensible roadmap to recovery.

 

The new Budget delivers the quality programs that Albertans expect and need. It invests in priority areas, such as health care and education; builds safe and strong communities by providing needed infrastructure and programs; and balances responsible development and environmental protection. It is built around government’s four-point plan for economic recovery. The plan calls for prudent spending, using savings to protect programs and services, continuing to invest in infrastructure and promoting the province on the world stage.

 

Alberta went into this downturn in a position of economic leadership - in the best shape of any jurisdiction in North America - and we have the people, the resources, and the fiscal strength, to ensure that we come out of it ahead of the pack. That combination of realism and confidence is at the heart of Budget 2009.

 

This is the time to turn challenge into opportunity: to improve our productivity and sharpen our competitive edge; to get good value for the taxpayer’s dollar; to keep people working and build the public infrastructure we’re going to need when growth returns.

Learn more about Budget 2009

Highlights of Budget 2009

Budget 2009 plans for spending of $36.4 billion to maintain important government programs and services, especially for those Albertans most in need, and to support continued responsible development of the province’s energy resources. Here are some highlights.

• Budget 2009 will ensure government continues to provide the programs and services Albertans require and expect, with a focus on healthcare, education and helping those who need it most.
• Priority areas of health, education, advanced education, seniors and children's services account for 75 per cent of the operating increase.
• Budget 2009 will enable us to meet Albertans’ priorities without major tax increases or drastic cuts to programs.
• Central to the budget is the Capital Plan which provides $7.2 billion in 2009-10 and $23.2 billion over three years to build roads, health care facilities, schools and other public infrastructure. This year’s investment alone will support over 80,000 jobs across the economy.

Read details of Budget 2009

Albertans invited to shape the future of education

Albertans are invited to take part in a series of conversations about the future of education in Alberta. There will be 10 community conversations in eight different locations across the province in April, May and June.

Using an innovative dialogue approach, Inspiring Education will engage Albertans in extensive discussions about education as a foundation for the future societal and economic success of the province. The perspectives and ideas gathered through this process will be used to develop a policy framework which describes the overall direction, principles and long-term goals for education in Alberta over the next two decades.

Learn how you can participate