How Alberta Budget 2026 impacts each sector of the economy.
Alberta Budget 2025 allocates $860M operating for agriculture with $250M capital plan focused on irrigation, as tariffs threaten crop and cattle exports.
Agriculture operating expense
$860M
+$30M (3.6%) from 2024-25
Alberta Budget 2025 backs data centres with $698M Technology and Innovation capital plan and AI Data Centre Strategy, but lacks dedicated funding.
Technology and Innovation capital plan
$698M over 3 years
Alberta Budget 2025 boosts K-12 education spending by 4.5% to $9.9B, commits $814M for enrolment growth, and invests $3.3B in school construction.
Education Operating Expense
$9,883M
+$426M (+4.5%)
Alberta Budget 2025 increases Affordability and Utilities spending to $168M, up 27%, with grid modernization and Rate of Last Resort rollout.
Affordability and Utilities total expense
$168M
+$36M from 2024-25
Alberta Budget 2025 invests over $700M in water infrastructure, $646M in TIER clean tech, and $75M in flood/drought mitigation across ministries.
Environment Operating
$514M
+$106M (+26%)
Alberta Budget 2025 normalizes forestry spending to $403M after $1.1B wildfire year, with $293M capital plan for parks and wildfire readiness.
Forestry and Parks operating expense
$362M
+$4M from 2024-25 base
Alberta Budget 2025 allocates $24B to health, restructures the system into four agencies, and invests $3.6B in health capital over three years.
Health Total Expense
$24,037M
+$342M (1.4%)
Alberta Budget 2025 invests $1.9B in housing capital including $767M ASHC program targeting 6,300 new affordable units, with 43,000 housing starts forecast.
ASHC capital grants over 3 years
$767M
+$250M vs. Budget 2024
Alberta Budget 2025 provides $92M for Indigenous housing, $50M for water tie-ins, $45M for health, and expands AIOC loan guarantees to tourism.
Indigenous Relations Operating
$228M
+$8M (+3.6%)
Alberta Budget 2025 invests $698M in tech capital led by broadband, $834M in operating for innovation, but spending drops sharply after 2025-26.
Technology & Innovation Operating
$834M
+$42M (+5.3%)
Alberta Budget 2025 raises income support 26% to $1.26B for tariff preparedness, invests $135M/yr in trades, and faces 7.4% unemployment.
Employment & Income Support
$1,255M
+$258M (+26%)
Alberta Budget 2025 invests in trade corridors with Highway 3 twinning ($106M), Highway 63 ($101M), and airport expansion as US tariffs reshape trade flows.
Manufacturing exports to US
$32B in 2024
Face 15% tariff
Alberta Budget 2025 projects manufacturing exports to decline under 15% US tariffs, with $32B in annual US trade at risk across chemicals, food, and wood.
Manufacturing exports to US (2024)
$32B
Alberta Budget 2025 advances the Minerals Strategy with $56.6M for policy development, but dedicated mining capital remains minimal amid coal decline.
Energy and Minerals policy allocation
$56.6M
Supports minerals strategy
Alberta Budget 2025 allocates $7.5B for municipal infrastructure (29% of Capital Plan), with $2.5B LGFF and $2.9B for LRT transit expansion.
Municipal infrastructure support
$7.5B over 3 years
29% of total Capital Plan
Alberta Budget 2025 projects bitumen royalties at $12.8B, down $4B from prior year, as WTI drops to US$68/bbl amid tariff uncertainty.
Bitumen royalties
$12.8B
-$4.0B from 2024-25
Alberta Budget 2025 invests $293M in parks capital for campgrounds, trails, and wildfire preparedness, while operating funding stays flat at $362M.
Forestry & Parks Operating
+$4M (+1.1%)
Alberta Budget 2025 commits $311M to APIP petrochemical incentives over three years as Dow Path2Zero mega-project ramps to peak construction.
APIP grants
$311M over 3 years
Front-loaded: $181M in Year 1
Alberta Budget 2025 commits $1.5B in post-secondary capital but holds operating funding essentially flat, while investing $135M/yr in skilled trades.
Advanced Education Operating
$6,635M
+$7M (+0.1%)
Alberta Budget 2025 invests in border security, expands prosecution capacity, and allocates $280M+ in justice capital over three years.
Public Safety Operating
$1,312M
+$46M (+3.7%)
Alberta Budget 2025 creates Assisted Living Alberta at $3.8B, invests $1.9B in housing/care capital, and grows the Seniors Benefit to $540M.
Assisted Living Alberta Operating
$3,848M
+$184M (+5%)
Alberta Budget 2025 offers small businesses indirect support through tax cuts and population growth but faces tariff headwinds and rising unemployment.
Income Tax Cut (annual savings)
$1,200M
Up to $750/person
Alberta Budget 2025 reduces tourism operating funding to $118M as temporary programs wind down, while the weak dollar and AIOC expansion offer upside.
Tourism & Sport Operating
$118M
-$8M (-6.3%)
Alberta Budget 2025 delivers the largest transportation capital plan at $8.5B over three years, including $2.9B for LRT and $485M for Deerfoot Trail.
Transportation capital plan
$8,475M over 3 years
Largest ministry allocation
Alberta Budget 2025 boosts Affordability and Utilities to $160M operating expense and invests $520M in water and wastewater infrastructure.
Affordability and Utilities operating expense
$160M
+$36M (29%) from 2024-25