What's in Budget 2011 for
Albertans?
See the links below for highlights on what's in Budget 2011 with regard to:
- All Albertans
- Communities
- Health
- First Nations and Métis settlements
- Parents
- K-12 students
- Post-secondary students
- People with disabilities
- Albertans with lower incomes, seniors and Albertans in need
- Affordable housing
- Businesses and the economy
- Roads
- Farmers and ranchers
- The environment
- Taxes
- Alberta has emerged from the worst global economic downturn since the 1930s in solid fiscal shape, with core public services preserved and our province positioned for growth.
- Budget 2011 is a practical, responsible budget that maintains fiscal discipline while preserving and enhancing priority programs that Albertans value most - like health, education and supports for Albertans in need.
- Budget 2011 continues to support infrastructure, committing $17.6 billion over the next three years to build schools, hospitals, roads and other vital public infrastructure to meet the needs of a province and growing economy.
- Budget 2011 maintains government’s commitment to not raise taxes, ensuring that Alberta continues to have the lowest tax regime in Canada. If we had the same tax system as other provinces, Albertans and Alberta businesses would pay at least $11 billion more in taxes each year.
- Three-year Capital Plan supports $17.6 billion in infrastructure spending, including $6.6 billion in 2011-12. The three-year plan includes:
- $5.1 billion in 2011-12 for municipal infrastructure
- $4.6 billion for roads and highways
- $2.6 billion for health care facilities and equipment
- $1.2 billion for schools and post-secondary facilities
- $5.1 billion over the next three years for municipal infrastructure includes:
- $2.7 billion under the Municipal Sustainability Initiative for core infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public transit
- $1.8 billion in transportation grants
- $440 million for GreenTRIP in support of public transit
- $134 million for projects supported by federal stimulus funding
- $151 million for Safe Communities projects, the second year of a three-year funding initiative. This includes hiring additional probation officers to target repeat and high risk offenders and enhanced mental health and addiction services in provincial correctional facilities.
- $60 million for tourism development and marketing.
- $71.6 million in funding for provincial parks, a 3.1 per cent increase, plus a further $13.6 million in capital investment.
- $28 million to support sport, recreation and active living initiatives.
- Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park will open in summer 2011
- Budget funding for health makes up 43.6 per cent of the budget’s total operating expense.
- Health and Wellness will receive funding of $14.9 billion, made up of:
- $14.8 billion in ongoing operating expense
- $134 million in capital grants, amortization and vaccine consumption
- $9.6 billion operating grant to Alberta Health Services in 2011-12, a 6 per cent increase from 2010-11. This increase marks the second year of a five-year funding agreement with Alberta Health Services.
- $3.3 billion for physician compensation and development.
- $1 billion for drugs and other health benefits for Albertans.
- $800 million for other health services. This includes:
- $4 million for a STI and blood borne pathogens strategy
- $2 million to implement the Alberta Injury Control Strategy
- Nearly $2.6 billion over 3 years is budgeted to support health capital projects. Funding for new or expanded health facilities and maintenance and renewal of existing facilities is budgeted in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
First Nations and Métis settlements
- Through the First Nations Economic Partnerships Initiative, more than $2 million is available to facilitate new business partnerships between Aboriginal people and industry, and help support Alberta’s growing number of First Nations entrepreneurs.
- With 63 per cent of Aboriginal people living in urban centres in Alberta, Budget 2011 provides more than $1 million for an enhanced focus on urban aboriginal initiatives.
- Children and Youth Services budget is at $1.2 billion for 2011-12, including an increase of $39 million in operating expense, or 3.4 per cent.
- Increased funding for child intervention programs by $17 million, or 2.9 per cent, to $607 million.
- Funding for families caring for children with a disability has increased by $2.7 million to $129 million.
- Alberta children will receive $19 million in Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan grants to kick-start their educational savings – an increase of $3.5 million to keep pace with the province’s baby boom.
- Education program expense is budgeted at $6.2 billion in 2011-12. This includes:
- $5.7 billion in operating expense to school boards, an increase of $257 million, or 4.7 per cent
- $288 million for school capital projects
- $468 million to operate and maintain schools
- $228 million for the Class Size Initiative
- 4.4 per cent increase for the base per student grant.
- $299 million to support government employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Plan.
- $49 million for the Student Health Initiative to increase access to specialized support services for students, such as speech-language pathologists or audiologists.
- $260 million to maintain support for student transportation services, an increase of $2 million.
- Advanced Education and Technology program expense is budgeted at $3 billion in 2011-12. This includes:
- $2.8 billion in operating support
- $251 million in capital support
- Total funding for Alberta’s 26 publicly funded post-secondary institutions will increase by $61.6 million.
- Of the $251 million budgeted for capital, $107 million will address capital maintenance and renewal and $144 million will complete the remaining approved post-secondary projects.
- In addition to $199 million in scholarships, grants and debt management tools, a total of $267 million in student loans will be available in 2011-12. This will provide needs-based funding to an estimated 53,000 students.
- Alberta will continue to offer one of the most generous scholarship programs in Canada. In 2011-12, about 37,500 students will share in $71 million in scholarships.
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH):
- The AISH budget will increase by 3.5 per cent, or $26 million, for a total of $783 million.
- This increase will maintain the current maximum monthly benefit of $1,188 per month and related supports provided to more than 42,000 AISH clients.
- Since 2005-06, funding to AISH has increased by $290 million, or 60 per cent.
- Supports to Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD):
- Funding for PDD will increase $12 million, or 2 per cent, for a total of $608 million.
- This funding will provide supports for more than 9,300 adults with developmental disabilities.
Albertans with lower incomes, seniors and Albertans in need
- The operating budget for Seniors and Community Supports is over $2 billion, up $71 million, or 3.5 per cent, from 2010-11.
- Seniors supports:
- $75 million will be invested toward the development of new affordable supportive living spaces across the province.
- Since 1999, the province has invested over $500 million in provincial capital funding to help build and modernize more than 10,000 affordable supportive living spaces and lodge units across the province. About 6,000 of these have been completed.
- Support for low-income Albertans:
- Program funding to Alberta Aids for Daily Living (AADL) will increase more than $5 million, or 4.4 per cent, for a total of $124 million.
- This financial assistance program helps approximately 85,000 Albertans with long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness to obtain medical equipment and supplies that help them to maintain their independence.
- Nearly $93 million to support implementation of the 10-year plan to end homelessness. This includes:
- 3,500 spaces in shelters
- outreach services for an additional 500 homeless Albertans
- $77 million in rental assistance will help about 15,000 low-income households.
- Capital grants totaling $100 million in 2011-12 and $232 million over three years will be provided to support housing programs.
- Over the next three years development of more than 1,500 additional housing units will be supported, with up to half provided for the homeless prevention initiative.
- About 15,000 low-income households will receive rental assistance in 2011-12, as the program budget is increased slightly to $77 million
- Through the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative, the government has increased the supply of affordable supportive living units to house low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. There is $75 million budgeted in 2011-12 for ASLI.
- A total of $202 million will be invested in Alberta’s priority research areas and technology commercialization through the Alberta Innovates corporations. This includes:
- Technology Futures – $94 million
- Health Solutions – $76 million
- Energy and Environment Solutions – $18.5 million
- Bio Solutions – $13.5 million
- More than $162 million in employment programs.
- $60 million for tourism development and marketing.
- $4.6 billion over the next three years for the provincial highway network, including $1.7 billion for capital projects in 2011-12. This includes:
- $642 million for continued construction of the Calgary and Edmonton ring roads
- $362 million for continued construction of other key strategic economic and trade corridors – including Highway 63
- $661 million for other highway construction and rehabilitation
- $369 million for provincial highway maintenance and preservation.
- About $1 billion for agriculture and rural development.
- $135 million for industry development and food safety includes grants to
- Agricultural Service Boards and Societies
- major fairs and exhibitions
- food safety and animal health
- research
- food processing
- More than $41 million is provided for the joint federal-provincial Growing Forward suite of programs including the cost-shared program AgriFlex. These key initiatives are intended to strengthen and diversify the agricultural sector and advance innovation.
- More than $41 million committed to the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency to strengthen its continued support in achieving an internationally respected, competitive and profitable livestock and meat industry.
- The cattle price insurance program expanded to include cow-calf operators.
- New hog price insurance program introduced.
- $73 million in 2011-12 for carbon capture and storage (CCS).
- $120 million this year and $440 million over three years for GreenTRIP in support of public transit.
- $336 million in support for biofuel initiatives over three years, including $58 million in 2011-12.
- An additional $3 million for monitoring, science and reporting, an increase of more than 21 per cent, for a total of $17 million
.
- $121 million for climate change initiatives, including $51 million from the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.
- About $25 million in operating support across government for the Water for Life strategy.
- With this budget, Albertans will continue to benefit from one of the most competitive tax systems in North America.
- Alberta’s tax advantage is the result of low personal income taxes, low corporate income taxes, the lowest fuel taxes among provinces, no capital tax, no payroll tax, and no sales tax.
- If Alberta had any other provincial tax system, Albertans and Alberta businesses would pay at least $11 billion more in taxes each year.
- Personal income tax credits will increase by 0.9 per cent to offset inflation.
- Education property tax rates will be reduced by nearly 8 per cent.
Page last updated:
October 28, 2011
