Dear Constituents, 

As we begin to climb out of the worst global recession since the 1930s, Alberta, like other jurisdictions, strives to address the needs of today without compromising our future prosperity.  That is what Budget 2010 is about.

Some will say government is spending too little, while others will say we’re spending too much.  Budget 2010 strikes the right balance by spending on priority programs, while tightening spending to bring the province back into the black in 2012.

In all, the Alberta government will spend $38.7 billion on public programs and services in 2010-11, about $1.5 billion more than this past year, mainly for health care, education, seniors and programs for vulnerable Albertans.  Spending was reduced in a number of areas across government and the savings found were re-invested into these priority areas.

Our commitment to public health care now totals more than $15 billion—a $2-billion increase.  That includes a $1.3-billion boost to the Alberta Health Services operating base.  This marks the start of a five-year commitment to predictable and reliable funding to support long-term planning and health care delivery.

Funding to school boards is increased by $250 million, or 4.8 per cent, and benefit levels are maintained for recipients of Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, and the Alberta Seniors Benefit.  In addition, funding remains the same for the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program.

Investment in public infrastructure continues—supporting jobs today and laying the foundation for opportunities tomorrow—and we continue to support initiatives that maximize the value of our resources and enhance our ability to compete on the world stage.

Government is projecting a $4.7 billion deficit in 2010-11.  This year’s deficit will be offset by savings from the Sustainability Fund.  But we are not relying on our savings alone to carry us through these challenging times.  We will continue to work diligently to tighten spending where we can, and with improved revenues as the economy recovers, we will be back in the black by 2012-13.

Budget 2010 lays the groundwork for future growth, and strikes the right balance of meeting today’s needs while supporting our vision for lasting prosperity.  It supports our vision for a strong, competitive Alberta, with the best publicly funded health care and the most advanced infrastructure in Canada.

Thank you for your support and your contribution to making our province a great place to live.

Sincerely,


Ron Liepert, MLA
Calgary West