Airdrie businesses share budget feedback to Finance Minister

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Airdrie businesses and non-profits had the opportunity to hear from Minister of Finance Travis Toews on some highlights from Alberta’s 2023 budget and ask questions about what they mean for Airdrie during the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Breakfast on March 3. 

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Some top-of-mind topics that attendees asked about included growth supports, health care, and affordable housing. 

Toews was asked about the province’s intentions on supporting new affordable housing spaces. He said the Government of Alberta’s long-term plan was to support business and not-for-profit-led projects to eventually add 25,000 new affordable living spaces in the province. 

“Consistent with that plan, the funding in this budget supports the phased-in approach. We can bring relief investments into affordable housing, and we’re also going to be working with private sector partners and non-profit foundations in a lot of communities,” said Toews. 

“Over time, we may… decrease government-owned facilities, and fund and support third parties and even the private sector in terms of providing affordable housing,” he said. 

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When asked about the Government of Alberta’s strategy to eliminate provincial debt, Toews said strategies included mandating balanced budgets year-by-year, but allowing flexibility during times of disaster or unexpected sharp declines of revenue. 

Another strategy is to limit annual operation increases to only keep up with growth and inflation. 

A number of surplus cash policies are being brought forward as well. These would allocate 50 per cent of surplus dollars to pay off debt maturing in any given fiscal year. 

The remaining 50 per cent would be used to further pay down debt and make investments into the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. They could also be used to fund one-time initiatives that wouldn’t lead to permanent increases in government spending. 

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Toews said he believed a large amount of debt could be eliminated by 2032 if the province could stick to those policies. 

“By 2031/32, the vast majority of the debt we carry right now matures. I’d love to pay every dollar off, and whether we’re able to or not remains to be seen, but all of that means fiscal responsibility matters.” 

Mayor Peter Brown said during question period that City of Airdrie council wanted to find a time to meet with Toews to discuss ways to accommodate Airdrie’s high growth. 

“I’d like to ask for a commitment from you… to come and have a couple of hours with council, myself, and a couple of our administrators, to come and see first-hand the incredible growth that’s happened here,” said Brown. 

“Under the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF), we’re going to lose 37 per cent (of provincial support). Throw on inflation and interest rates, it’s (a lot higher),” he said. 

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“It’s extremely challenging—we’re growing at an unbelievable rate… but we can’t continue to grow at that pace without having a significant increase from our partnership with the province, and even the federal government.” 

Toews said he’d take Brown up on the request, but an exact date wasn’t shared. 

During his presentation, Toews said the province is intending to increase training and retention of health care professionals throughout the province. 

“We’re providing funding to attract international health care professionals. (Minister of Health Jason Copping) is working with health care colleges to streamline the criteria so foreign-trained professionals have a way to be on-boarded into our health care system,” said Toews. 

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“There’s still too much protectionism built into that criteria,” he said. 

The province increased health operating expenses by $965-million in the 2023 budget. $196-million over three years is intended to hire more EMS staff and implement recommendations from the Alberta EMS Provincial Advisory Committee. 

$15-million is intended to purchase new EMS vehicles and upgrade equipment in the same amount of time. 

Toews said 2,000 new positions will be available for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and health care aides in the 2023 budget, with a $30-million investment to add 120 more training spaces for medical professionals at post-secondary institutions. 

“That’s a 40 per cent increase in training opportunities for… Albertans who want to be doctors,” he said.