Appropriation Act, 2025 ($)

Summary#

• This bill is Alberta’s annual budget law. It gives the provincial government legal authority to spend money from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

• It sets how much can be spent on day‑to‑day services, big building projects, loans and other financial items, and an emergency fund.

• Key totals:

  • About CAD $56.83 billion for program operations (health care, schools, policing, etc.).
  • About CAD $3.92 billion for capital projects (building and fixing assets like roads, schools, hospitals).
  • About CAD $1.51 billion for financial transactions (mainly loans and investments).
  • CAD $4.0 billion for contingencies (an emergency/unknowns fund).
  • CAD $165.82 million for the Legislative Assembly and independent officers.

• The Health ministry is the largest share (about $22.35 billion for operations). Seniors, Community and Social Services and Education are also large.

• Ministers can move up to $5 million within their own budgets between operating, capital, and financial lines. The Infrastructure minister has extra transfer room to fund school and health builds.

What it means for you#

• Overall

  • Your health care, K–12 education, policing, roads, and other core services continue to be funded for the year.
  • This bill does not change taxes or create new programs by itself. It authorizes spending limits for existing programs and previously announced initiatives.

• Health and social services

  • Hospitals, doctors, and clinics continue to receive funding (largest item in the budget).
  • Programs for seniors, disability supports, and income assistance continue to be funded.
  • Mental health and addiction services receive dedicated funds.

• Education and training

  • Operating money for K–12 schools continues.
  • Advanced Education funding supports universities, colleges, apprenticeships, and student aid (the “financial transactions” line often includes student loans).

• Roads and public works

  • Capital funds go to highways, bridges, and economic corridors.
  • The Infrastructure minister can shift up to about $1.54 billion from capital to grants to help build or buy school and health facilities, speeding up those projects.

• Communities and safety

  • Money is set aside for public safety, emergency services, and wildfire and disaster response.
  • Municipal Affairs funding supports local governments and grants.

• Contingency and cleanup

  • A $4 billion contingency is available for emergencies or costs that come up during the year.
  • Up to $35 million can be used to retire liabilities related to cleaning up contaminated sites or end‑of‑life assets.

• Accountability

  • The government must account for how the money is spent. Independent officers (like the Auditor General) are funded to provide oversight.

Expenses#

Estimated annual cost: about CAD $56.83B for operations, plus $3.92B for capital, $1.51B for loans/financial items, and a $4.0B contingency.

• Major operating allocations (selected):

  • Health: about $22.35B
  • Seniors, Community and Social Services: about $10.26B
  • Education (K–12): about $5.98B
  • Advanced Education: about $2.83B
  • Jobs, Economy and Trade: about $2.22B
  • Transportation and Economic Corridors: about $1.83B
  • Public Safety and Emergency Services: about $1.24B
  • Mental Health and Addiction: about $1.78B
  • Municipal Affairs: about $1.37B

• Capital investments (selected):

  • Transportation and Economic Corridors: about $1.56B
  • Infrastructure: about $1.86B
  • Technology and Innovation: about $0.16B
  • Forestry and Parks: about $0.11B

• Financial transactions (selected):

  • Advanced Education: about $0.99B (typically student financial aid/loans)
  • Health: about $0.16B
  • Transportation and Economic Corridors: about $0.13B

• Legislative Assembly and independent offices: about $165.82M total (Assembly support, Auditor General, Ombudsman, Elections, Ethics, Privacy, Child and Youth Advocate, Public Interest Commissioner).

Proponents' View#

• Keeps core services running by setting clear funding for health care, schools, seniors’ supports, and public safety.
• Invests in long‑term assets like roads, schools, and hospitals to support growth and service quality.
• Builds in flexibility: small transfers let ministries manage costs; larger targeted transfers help speed school and health facility projects.
• Sets aside a sizeable contingency to handle wildfires, floods, health pressures, or other surprises without delay.
• Commits to accountability, with required reporting and funding for independent oversight.

Opponents' View#

• The $4 billion contingency may be too large, giving the government broad spending room with less upfront detail.
• Transfer powers (especially the Infrastructure transfer of up to about $1.54B) could blur lines between capital and operating grants and reduce transparency about project costs.
• Some areas may still feel underfunded (for example, classroom supports, primary care, or municipalities), but the Appropriation Act itself doesn’t show program‑level detail.
• Heavy use of “financial transactions” (like loans) can add risk if repayments fall short.
• The bill authorizes spending but does not spell out performance measures, making it hard for the public to see what outcomes will be delivered for the money.