Premier Danielle Smith discusses Budget 2026

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

The provincial budget has been released and Premier Danielle Smith, who is also the MLA of Brooks-Medicine Hat, shares her thoughts with her local constituents.

“In the last five years, Alberta has added to it’s population 600,000 people – that’s like a city half the size of Calgary. So to be frank – we have some catching up to do. We need to build schools, and hire more teachers, and hire more health care workers so that Albertans have access to the critically important services they and their families need,” she says.

Top of mind, especially in rural Alberta, is healthcare. The budget calls for billions to address pressing needs such as wait times for surgery, cancer care, and crisis support.

“If passed, Budget 2026 would invest $34.4 billion across healthcare sectors to deliver the best support possible to Albertans, expanding access to care, accessibility to new workers, and technology in Alberta’s hospitals,” Smith explains. “That includes an investment of $13.8 billion in acute care, an increase of $1.7 billion over last year, to increase surgical volumes, improve emergency response and department flow, and strengthen cancer care so Albertans can receive the care they need. It also includes $1.4 billion in capital funding over three years to expand and modernize hospitals and advance planning for future acute care capacity across the province.”

An item of note is the investment into learners who require different paths due to complex needs.

“Our government knows that every learner has unique needs — that’s why, in Budget 2026, we are supporting students who need specialized help with more than $1.8 billion in Learning Support Funding,” Smith shares. “We are also responding to concerns we heard from Albertans by building on the $143 million committed for complexity teams in February 2026, with an additional $355 million investment to help address classroom complexity.”

A very pressing issue is the increasing pressure on industries due to the labour shortage – especially seen in the trades.

“Through Budget 2026, we are putting $9.6 million toward workforce development partnerships, which helps Alberta respond to labour shortages in collaboration with industry leaders and other organizations. The Workforce Partnership Program provides grants to organizations such as employers, industry and sector associations, regional organizations, and Indigenous organizations to support labour market strategies and workforce development, including initiatives to attract and retain workers,” Smith says. “Budget 2026 would also provide $93.9 million for skills and training support, investing in programs such as Training for Work, the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant, Indigenous Employment Training Partnerships, and the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive. Each of these programs are strengthening our workforce and preparing people to work in the jobs of both today and tomorrow.”

As Alberta continues to grow in diversity, many newcomers are experiencing the lack of understanding that can come with introductions of new people, cultures, and ideas. Budget 2026’s anti-racism measures and newcomer support are aimed to help address these issues.

Smith elaborates, “Our government celebrates the cultures and heritage that come together and make Alberta strong. That is why we plan to invest $5.4 million on programs like the Ethnocultural Grant and Anti-Racism Grant. Alberta has always been and will continue to be strengthened by immigration if it is economically focused and takes a sustainable approach.

With $14.5 million in Budget 2026 going toward newcomer integration, we are equipping new Albertans with resources to be successful and to be continuing members of our society and economic success. We unequivocally denounce racism in any form and are proud to celebrate the diversity of our province.”

To see the full budget highlights and a detailed breakdown of the expenditures, visit https://www.alberta.ca/budget-highlights.

Smith concludes, “This budget invests where growth happens so more Albertans can find good work and build a future here at home. We are strengthening core services while positioning Alberta for long-term economic growth. Albertans will see continued investment in health care, education, and infrastructure that supports a growing population and a strong, stable economy.”