Ahead of the 2026 provincial budget, the Business Council of Alberta (BCA) identified three priorities: strengthening Alberta’s fiscal sustainability, accelerating red tape reduction, and expanding trade to support long-term competitiveness.
Today, the Government of Alberta delivered a budget that prioritizes core services while navigating a challenging trade environment and ongoing fiscal pressures. While the government acknowledges the structural challenges facing the province, further progress will be needed to fully secure Alberta’s long-term fiscal sustainability and competitiveness.
Investments in health care, education and infrastructure are critical to supporting Alberta families and sustaining the province’s long-term economic capacity. Budget 2026 responds to pressures created by rapid population growth and global economic uncertainty and provides important near-term stability in core services.
The BCA is encouraged to see continued emphasis on strengthening Alberta’s trade position and expanding market access. Alberta remains one of the least tariff-exposed provinces in Canada, and the government’s efforts to expand market access — particularly for energy, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and emerging technology sectors — position Alberta to remain competitive in a shifting global landscape. Efforts to grow pipeline capacity and expand trade into other global markets will be essential in reducing reliance on any single trading partner.
Measures aimed at strengthening Alberta’s skilled labour development, including expanded apprenticeship capacity, targeted post-secondary seat growth in high-demand fields and continued investment in skills development, signal a recognition that private-sector investment remains the primary engine of economic and social prosperity.
Supporting capital attraction and business competitiveness, from agriculture, energy and petrochemicals to emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and advanced manufacturing, requires a skilled and responsive workforce. Investments in apprenticeship learning, engineering programs, health care training and other priority sectors help ensure Alberta remains a place where opportunity, innovation and investment can thrive.
The BCA is also pleased that Alberta has also continued its longstanding commitment to reducing unnecessary regulatory burden having eliminated more than 220,000 regulatory requirements and reduced overall red tape by approximately 35 per cent in recent years. Continued focus on streamlining processes, improving coordination across ministries and accelerating approvals will be essential to ensuring Alberta remains a predictable and efficient place to invest.
At the same time, Budget 2026 reinforces the structural challenge facing the province.
Alberta’s revenue base remains heavily dependent on resource royalties, and multiple years of projected deficits underscore the risks of relying on such a volatile revenue source. While discipline on the expenditure side is important, long-term fiscal sustainability will require renewed attention to create a more stable and predictable revenue model that protects essential services, supports economic growth, and reduces the province’s vulnerability to commodity cycles. We encourage the Government of Alberta to move quickly in exploring revenue options.
BCA and our members look forward to working with the Government of Alberta, and will continue to support policies that enhance competitiveness, expand trade, attract investment and place Alberta on a stronger and more sustainable fiscal foundation for the years ahead.
Key Budget Highlights
Deficits projected: $9.4 billion in 2026-27, $7.6 billion in 2027-28, and $6.9 billion in 2028-29.
Total revenue (2026-27): $74.6 billion, based on a WTI oil price assumption of US$60.50 per barrel.
Three-year Capital Plan: $28.3 billion, including $4.9 billion for health facilities, $3.3 billion for schools, and $7.1 billion for municipal infrastructure.
Health care funding: $1.9 billion in new system-wide support, alongside expanded training spaces for nurse practitioners, nurses and health care aides.
Education funding: $722 million in additional funding for enrolment growth and classroom supports.
Advanced Education investment: $7.7 billion in 2026-27, including expanded apprenticeship capacity and high-demand occupation programming.
Apprenticeship Learning Grant: $96 million in 2026-27 to support record demand for skilled trades training (over 78,000 registered apprentices).
Targeted Enrollment Expansion (TEE): $353 million over three years to continue high-demand program growth, plus $148 million over three years for new seats in engineering, health care, education and other priority sectors — adding more than 4,000 additional post-secondary spaces.
Labour market agreements: $295 million in federal-provincial labour market funding to support skills training and workforce participation.
Real GDP forecast: 1.8% growth in 2026, strengthening to 2.3% in 2027.
Commitment to fiscal framework review, signaling recognition of long-term structural pressures and revenue volatility.