AB Government: Budget 2021 Capital Plan: Creating 90,000 new jobs

Press Release

Budget 2021’s Capital Plan invests almost $21 billion over three years to boost Alberta’s economy and create 90,000 new jobs.

The 2021 Capital Plan invests $20.7 billion over three years. This is an increase of $1.7 billion in 2021-22 from Budget 2020, reflecting the government’s commitment to getting shovel-ready projects off the ground and Albertans back to work in good-paying jobs.

The plan will support more than 50,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs through to 2024. This includes new funding for 41 projects totalling $825.8 million over three years, including:

$288 million for Education projects, including14 school projects and an increase to the modular classroom program ($60 million)
$143 million for five health projects, including the La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre ($35 million)
$177 million for Transportation projects, including $126 million in new funding for the La Crete Bridge ($9 million from existing funding for a total of $135 million) and $51 million for P3 Ring Road Rehabilitation in Calgary and Edmonton
$48.7 million for Environment and Parks capital projects, including David Thompson Corridor upgrades, flood mitigation and watercourse and watershed resiliency projects
$57.3 million for a new Court of Appeal building in Calgary

The three-year plan also includes $3 billion for capital maintenance and renewal of existing buildings, roads, bridges and more.

“This is an investment budget: it creates thousands of jobs, builds more efficient trade corridors, and fixes potholes and bridges so Albertans can safely get where they need to go.”

Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation

“Alberta’s government continues to build the vital public works projects Albertans rely on, ensuring that we create jobs today, while building the infrastructure that our province will need as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Alberta’s Recovery Plan

The 2021 Capital Plan provides funding in addition to the capital stimulus invested in infrastructure in Alberta’s Recovery Plan. Hundreds of infrastructure projects are underway throughout the province, supporting thousands of jobs related to planning, design and construction in local communities at a time when they are most in need of help. Stimulus funding announced in 2020-21 included:

$245 million to irrigation infrastructure projects totalling $815 million to expand irrigated acres within existing irrigation districts that will enable long-term, value-added food processing in Alberta
More than $900 million in accelerated capital maintenance and renewal projects
Approximately $700 million for strategic projects, such as Highway 3 twinning between Taber and Burdett, Highway 40 grade widening between Grande Cache and Hinton, the Highway 201 Bow River Bridge on Stoney Trail, therapeutic communities, and the Lethbridge Exhibition Centre expansion
$500 million for municipal stimulus
$200 million for Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program and water infrastructure projects

Budget 2021 protects lives and livelihoods with a historic investment in health care while laying the foundation for economic growth. Through the prudent management of tax dollars, Alberta’s government can continue to invest in priority areas to ensure Alberta emerges from COVID-19 stronger than ever.

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