Budget 2025: What It Means for Calgary Residents

The Bottom Line

Budget 2025 delivers significant capital investments to Calgary. The University of Calgary receives $125 million for a new sciences hub, SAIT gets $30 million for campus centre redevelopment, and the Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza transformation continues with $26 million over three years. Health infrastructure investments include the ongoing Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. New schools are coming through the School Construction Accelerator Program, and LRT expansion continues. Combined with the personal income tax cut saving you up to $750, Calgary residents see broad benefits across education, health, culture, and transit.

Top Measures That Affect You

1. University of Calgary Sciences Hub: $125 Million

Budget 2025 includes a $125 million capital allocation to create a new sciences hub at the University of Calgary. This will increase capacity by nearly 3,200 spaces in high-demand programs, directly expanding post-secondary opportunities for Calgary residents and families. The project involves renovating the Biological Sciences Building.

2. SAIT Campus Centre: $30 Million

$30 million in new funding goes to the SAIT Campus Centre Redevelopment project. The new campus will provide student-focused spaces supporting health and well-being, campus athletics and recreation, campus life, and work-integrated learning opportunities. SAIT trains thousands of Calgary workers in trades and technology each year.

3. Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza: $26 Million

The Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza Transformation project receives $26 million over three years (2025-28). This is a continuation of a multi-phase project that will renew one of Calgary's most important cultural venues and public gathering spaces in the downtown core.

4. Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre: $25 Million

The three-year Capital Plan allocates $25 million remaining for the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary. This state-of-the-art facility will transform cancer treatment in southern Alberta when it opens.

5. School Construction Accelerator Program (SCAP)

Budget 2025 allocates $2.6 billion over three years for K-12 educational infrastructure, an increase of $505 million or 23.9% from Budget 2024. The SCAP program accelerates school construction, expands modular classrooms, and supports educational choice through capital support for specialized and public charter schools. The government aims to deliver roughly 150,000 new and modernized student spaces. Calgary, with its rapid population growth, stands to receive a significant share.

6. LRT and Transit: Approximately $2.9 Billion

Approximately $2.9 billion (federal and provincial combined) is allocated to LRT projects in Edmonton and Calgary. This includes the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program. For Calgary commuters, continued LRT expansion improves your daily commute and connects growing suburban communities.

7. Personal Income Tax Cut

The new 8% tax bracket on your first $60,000 of income saves you up to $750 per year. For Calgary households where two individuals file taxes, that is up to $1,500 in combined savings. You should see the benefit on your paycheques after July 1, 2025.

Direct Financial Impact

Tax cut: Up to $750 per individual from the new 8% bracket on the first $60,000 of income. This is the equivalent of a meaningful monthly boost to your household budget.

Property taxes: Education property tax rates increase to $2.72 per $1,000 for residential and $4.00 per $1,000 for non-residential in 2025-26, after being frozen in 2024-25. This affects your annual property tax bill.

Housing market: Calgary's housing market is expected to remain strong. Housing starts province-wide are forecast at 43,000 in 2025, moderating from nearly 48,000 in 2024. Population growth of 2.5%, while slower than the 4.4% of the prior year, continues to drive housing demand. Shelter costs are expected to ease with lower interest rates.

Employment outlook: Calgary's economy benefits from the energy sector, which faces a lower 10% tariff compared to 15% on other goods. However, the unemployment rate is forecast at 7.4% province-wide, and job gains are lagging behind working-age population growth. Manufacturing and agriculture sectors in the region face disproportionate tariff impacts.

Inflation: CPI is forecast at 2.6% in 2025. Shelter costs, which have been a major contributor to inflation, are set to ease.

Service Changes

Health system restructuring: Four new provincial health agencies are being created. Primary Care Alberta will focus on improving access to family doctors and after-hours care. Acute Care Alberta will manage hospital services. These changes aim to reduce wait times and improve your experience as a patient.

Cancer treatment: The Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre will provide state-of-the-art treatment when complete, reducing the need for some patients to travel for specialized care.

Medical device reprocessing: $243 million is allocated for Medical Device Reprocessing Upgrades at six locations including Calgary, ensuring medical devices are properly maintained.

Drug production centre: $61 million in new funding goes toward a Central Drug Production and Distribution Centre in Calgary to better serve southern Alberta.

Recovery community: The Calgary Recovery Community is scheduled to open in 2025, providing specialized mental health and addiction recovery services.

100 additional police officers: The Safe Streets Action Plan funds additional police officers in Calgary and Edmonton.

Family Justice Strategy: Initially implemented in Edmonton and Calgary, this strategy has significantly improved court experiences for Albertans undergoing separation and divorce.

What's Missing

No Calgary-specific economic development fund: Despite Calgary's diversifying economy, the budget does not announce a city-specific economic development investment beyond existing provincial programs.

No affordable housing acceleration for Calgary: While ASHC receives $767 million over three years province-wide, there is no Calgary-specific affordable housing target or program.

No Green Line commitment: The budget does not specifically address the Calgary Green Line LRT project by name in the capital allocations provided.

No downtown office conversion program: Despite high downtown office vacancy, there is no provincial program to support office-to-residential conversion projects.

No event hosting fund: The budget does not announce funding for major event attraction for Calgary beyond existing Tourism and Sport allocations.

Key Dates

Date	Event
January 1, 2025	New 8% personal income tax bracket takes effect
February 27, 2025	Budget 2025 tabled
April 1, 2025	2025-26 fiscal year begins
After July 1, 2025	Adjusted payroll withholdings reflect tax cut on paycheques
2025	Calgary Recovery Community scheduled to open
2025-26	SCAP school construction projects advance
2025-26	Education property tax rate increases
2025-28	$125M University of Calgary project proceeds
2025-28	Arts Commons transformation continues

Where to Get Help

• Alberta Treasury Board and Finance: For income tax cut details. Visit alberta.ca/budget.
• City of Calgary: For information on how LGFF funding and transit investments affect your neighbourhood. Visit calgary.ca.
• Alberta Health: For information on health system changes. Call Health Link at 811.
• Calgary Board of Education / Calgary Catholic School District: For updates on new school construction in your area.
• Your MLA: Contact your Calgary-area MLA to discuss how budget measures affect your community.