Alberta Budget 2026: What upgrades southern Alberta will see

Health care, infrastructure and education are among areas receiving funding in southern Alberta through the province’s 2026 budget, announced Thursday.

The largest recipient of funding in southern Alberta is the twinning of Highway 3, from east of Bow Island to Medicine Hat.

“We’re really grateful, all of us, for this commitment which demonstrates the economic viability of southern Alberta and what the agri-food corridor is doing to the south,” said Bill Chapman, vice-president of the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association.

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The 36-kilometre stretch of road will see $152 million over three years to build. It’s Phase 2 of seven to twin the highway from Medicine Hat to the Crowsnest Pass.

“This investment recognizes the essential role Highway 3 plays in safety, commerce and connection throughout southern Alberta,” said Bow Island Mayor Gordon Reynolds.

The provincial government has set aside $443 million for small and mid-sized municipalities to build and enhance water and wastewater infrastructure – an area Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen advocated for.

“It will take some time to review the entire scope of the 2026 provincial budget, including discussions with our chief financial officer and treasurer, to see the full picture for our city,” Hyggen said in a statement.

“We look forward to working with the provincial government in the coming weeks and months to learn more about what this proposed budget means specifically for Lethbridge.”

Education in the province will benefit from additional support, including $3.3 billion to use towards 161 new and ongoing school projects.

“We want to get more supports in classrooms,” said Kyle Beauchamp, associate superintendent of business affairs at the Lethbridge School Division. “Support our teachers and support our inclusive education and barrier-free model – but in addition to the teachers, we have our other accelerating needs like transportation, facilities and maintenance. Those costs keep going up too, so [we’re] looking for support and funding to help maintain the inflationary pressures we’re seeing on those services as well.”

Post-secondary institutions will also see an increase in funding for expanding seats in high-demand programs, an increase to the Campus Alberta operating grant and continued support for critical care projects.

“Stable, predictable operating funding is essential to maintaining program quality, supporting faculty and staff and ensuring students continue to receive a high-quality learning experience,” said Digvir Jayas, University of Lethbridge president and vice-chancellor, in a statement.

“Targeted funding for programs in engineering, health care and education will further strengthen our impact, and we look forward to learning more about these investments.”

The province has also confirmed a previous announcement of $35 million over three years for the Southern Alberta Medical School (SAMP) at the University of Lethbridge.

The money will be used to renovate the community centre for wellbeing into the new home of the SAMP.

“This investment will ensure the program’s new 5,000-square-metre, purpose-built medical education and clinic facility is fully operational in July 2027,” said Jayas.

The oldest hospital in Alberta will also be replaced.

The Cardston Health Centre, built in 1959, will undergo $74 million in upgrades and renovations.

The provincial government has re-announced $59 million over the next three years for developing a catheterization laboratory at the Chinook Regional Hospital, along with enhancing the intensive care unit capacity at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and Chinook Regional Hospital.

Medicine Hat College will be provided $2 million over three years to fund the centre for community wellness project, aimed at providing modern and integrated learning spaces.