What's in Budget 2012

See the links for highlights on what's in Budget 2012:

... for all Albertans?

  • The Government of Alberta is following through on its commitment to Albertans by responsibly investing in programs that support Albertans’ quality of life without raising taxes and positioning the province to balance the budget by 2013-14.

  • 75% of this budget is being invested in people through core programs that provide Albertans with better access to health care services, help our growing seniors population, ensure a better quality of life for the vulnerable and continue to build the best education system in Canada.

  • Albertans benefit from a significant level of investment in public infrastructure, with Alberta investing 38% more per capita than the per capita average of the other provinces.


... for communities?

  • Three-year predictable funding for school boards, post-secondary institutions and municipalities. This provides greater stability, fiscal discipline and improved planning in preparing our young people for the future, and for the important services municipalities provide to their residents.
  • $16.5 billion over the next three years to plan, build and improve the public facilities that Albertans need and use every day, including schools, health facilities and highways.
  • $14 million for the Safe Communities Innovation Fund to support crime prevention and reduction initiatives.
  • 90 new RCMP officers and 55 new sheriffs to be hired by 2013-14.












... for health care?

  • $16 billion to support Health and Wellness, including $10.2 billion to Alberta Health Services for base operating funding for front-line health services.
  • $125 million in each of the next three years to support strategic health investments, including family care clinics, additional addictions and mental health services, home care and enhanced rehabilitation programs.
  • $1 billion in assistance for prescription drugs, ambulance services, cancer therapy drugs and specialized high cost drugs.
  • $740 million for health services including those provided by oral surgeons, optometrists and podiatrists, as well as for vaccination programs and tissue and blood services.
  • $2.6 billion for health facilities and equipment over the next three years.
  • Calgary South Health Campus, Edmonton Clinic South and Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital to open this year to improve access to health services in these communities.
  • Construction completed or underway over the next three years on health facilities in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, High Prairie, Edson, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Sherwood Park.

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... for First Nations and Métis Settlements?

  • $120 million in the First Nations Development Fund supporting economic, social and community development projects.
  • More than $29 million for programs that address First Nations and Métis relations, and Aboriginal consultations.
  • $3 million for essential services such as water, wastewater, roads and landfill services on Métis Settlements.

... for parents?

  • Full child care subsidies to be available for families with a household income of $50,000 or less. More than 26,000 subsidies provided to low- and middle-income families.
  • $76 million for Family and Community Support Services to fund a variety of preventive social programs such as youth outreach, parenting programs and preschool programs to help families live in safe and nurturing homes and communities.

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... for K-12 students?

  • $34 million invested every school day in K-12 students.
  • School boards to receive grant rate increases of 1%, 2% and 2% for base instruction and class size grants over the next three years to address enrolment and other cost pressures. Other grants increasing 2% each year.
  • 14 new schools opening their doors to more than 10,000 students this year.
  • 45 new schools and 31 major renovation projects in planning or construction.
  • $1 billion invested in school infrastructure over the next three years.

... for post-secondary students?

  • 2% increase in operating grants for post-secondary institutions in each of the next three years, including $2.2 billion in 2012-13.
  • $274 million in student loans for more than 53,000 students this year.
  • $71 million in scholarships for 37,500 students, more than all other provinces combined.
  • Completion of the SAIT Trades and Technology Complex and the phase two expansion of Bow Valley College to enhance training for students.

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... for people with disabilities?

  • $400 increase to maximum monthly income benefit for recipients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Program, effective April 1, 2012. Monthly income exemptions double.
  • 46,000 Albertans with a permanent disability to benefit from financial and health-related assistance through the AISH program.
  • 9,600 adults with developmental disabilities to receive supports to encourage independence and community involvement.
  • $148 million to help families with the cost of raising a child who has a disability.









... for Albertans with lower incomes, seniors and Albertans in need?

  • 150,000 lower-income seniors to receive monthly support through the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
  • $177 million for seniors programs including seniors dental and optical assistance, seniors lodge assistance, property tax assistance programs and special needs assistance for seniors.
  • $25 million in each of the next three years to develop new affordable supportive living spaces across the province.
  • 1,500 new affordable supportive living spaces to be opened by March 2013.
  • 87,000 Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness to receive financial assistance to buy medical equipment or supplies to help maintain their independence.
  • 5% average increase in income support rates for people who are looking for a job, are in training so they can get a job or who are temporarily unable to find work.

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... for at-risk children and youth?

  • 12% increase in funding for Child Intervention programs, including foster care support.
  • $3 million in additional funding for early intervention services to help children, youth and families build on their strengths and prevent them from needing more invasive services in the future.



... for homelessness?

  • $110 million to address homelessness in Alberta, including outreach support services, housing for about 1,800 homeless and more than 3,100 emergency / transitional shelter spaces.
  • A new Interagency Council on Homelessness will lead the implementation of the 10-year plan to end homelessness in Alberta.

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... for businesses and the economy?

  • Projected economic growth of 3.8 per cent, double the anticipated growth of the entire country.
  • No increase in corporate taxes; Alberta’s tax regime remains most competitive in the country.
  • $24 million to grow Alberta’s presence internationally to ensure better market access for our products.
  • $275 million for research, innovation and technology commercialization to support innovators and entrepreneurs in getting their ideas off the ground, contributing to Albertans’ quality of life and diversifying the economy.
  • $25 million to increase support for scientific research through an enhanced, more competitive tax credit.

... for roads and transit?

  • $3.5 billion invested in Alberta’s highway network over three years for highway maintenance and rehabilitation, as well as major projects including the Northeast Anthony Henday Drive ring road in Edmonton and Southeast Stoney Trail in Calgary.
  • $540 million over three years in GreenTRIP funding to make public transit more accessible and advance Alberta’s leadership in greenhouse gas emissions. Projects include a new LRT extension in Edmonton, a transit terminal in Strathcona County and new buses in Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Banff and Canmore.


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... for farmers and ranchers?

  • $1 billion to support Agriculture and Rural Development, including crop, hail and livestock insurance programs and operation of a state-of-the art research greenhouse to assist with crop diversification, as well as funding to help build an internationally respected, competitive and profitable livestock and meat industry.








... for the environment?

  • $11 million in additional funding to help deliver a comprehensive environmental monitoring program in the Lower Athabasca Region, to assure Albertans we are developing our resources responsibly.
  • $70 million for greening energy production and climate change adaptation through the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund.
  • $60 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support clean energy research and waste-to-energy conversion through the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change initiative.
  • $444 million for bioenergy initiatives over three years.

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... for taxpayers?

  • No new taxes and no tax rate increases.
  • Personal income tax credits increased to offset inflation.
  • Albertans and Alberta businesses pay the least taxes in the country – with the lowest fuel tax among provinces, no payroll tax, no capital tax and no provincial sales tax.
  • Albertans would pay almost $11 billion more in taxes each year with any other provincial tax system.


... learn more

See the Budget 2012 Fact Cards:

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Page last updated:  March 28, 2012