Managing taxpayers’ dollars

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Alberta is strongest when we grow the economy and manage taxpayer dollars responsibly. This week, our government delivered a major financial milestone, putting Alberta on track for another budget surplus while continuing to invest in rural health care, regional growth, and farmers facing severe moisture conditions.

Our government is keeping Alberta’s finances on the right track. Budget 2026 projects a $2-billion surplus, which is $11.4 billion higher than previously forecast. Higher revenues from natural resources and strong growth in energy, manufacturing, and agriculture helped drive this improvement. With Alberta expected to finish 2025-26 in the black, our government is also on track to deliver five consecutive budget surpluses, with a sixth in sight for this year. We are also growing the Alberta Heritage Trust Fund, which is forecast to reach $32 billion by the end of this fiscal year, helping to support Albertans for generations to come.  

Reliable primary care is essential to keeping rural communities healthy and growing. Our government is investing an additional $9 million to help rural clinics hire more health care professionals and expand services to benefit even more Albertans. Nearly $8 million through the Rural Team Recruitment Grant program is helping create 105 new health care positions across rural and remote Alberta, including at the Langdon Medical Clinic, which received $150,000 in funding this spring to support health care recruitment and strengthen local access to care. Through these investments, we are already seeing results across the province.

Our government is helping towns and cities across Alberta turn local opportunities into new investment and jobs. Alberta’s government is investing $3 million through the Northern and Regional Economic Development program to support municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations working to grow their local economies. The City of Chestermere was also a recent recipient of funding through this program, helping support local economic development initiatives in our community. Since launching the program in 2022, we have invested almost $29 million in 291 projects across the province. Applications for the program are open until Nov. 19 and can be submitted online (alberta.ca/northern-and-regional-economic-development-program).

Farmers can plan carefully for the growing season, but they cannot control Mother Nature. After record moisture left some Alberta producers unable to access their fields or complete essential farm work, our government added more flexibility under the AgriStability program to help them manage major drops in farm income. Producers who missed the original April deadline now have until Oct. 1 to enroll. Eligible farmers can now receive up to 75 per cent of their estimated AgriStability benefit early, helping put money in their hands sooner during a difficult growing season.

When Alberta’s finances are strong, we can invest in priorities that matter to Albertans. Our government is keeping the province on solid financial footing while investing in rural health care, local economies, and farmers who need relief. That balance means improving the services Albertans rely on today while building greater opportunities over the long-term.

Finally, I am pleased to share that last week I had the honour of hosting the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, the Honourable Nathan Neudorf, members of Strathmore town council, and Wheatland County council, to discuss seniors’ care in Chestermere-Strathmore. As our communities continue to grow, ensuring seniors have access to the care and supports they need remains a priority. I appreciate the opportunity to hear different perspectives, share local concerns, and discuss how we can work together to support seniors and their families.

As always, please free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)