The government’s planned spending in 2023–24 is $66.8 billion, $6.5 billion higher than last year’s initial budget projection, as the incumbent United Conservative Party allocates taxpayer dollars toward everything from health care to light rail developments to broadband access. While higher spending took a bite out of the province’s bottom line, its expected budget surplus for 2023 was still $1.9 billion higher than in 2022 as high oil prices ushered in a revenue windfall. (The Logic)

Talking point: Finance Minister Travis Toews’s budget topped up several worker-related programs in an effort to address the province’s ongoing labour crunch, including a $176-million expansion to the Alberta at Work program starting in 2025, $95 million for reskilling efforts, and new university programs for specific industries like aviation and veterinary medicine. Alberta will also spend $369 million over three years in an effort to expand broadband access, $100 million on a film and TV tax credit, and a $54 million top-up to the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program starting in 2025. Dana O’Born, vice-president of strategy and advocacy for the Council of Canadian Innovators, said the group was overall supportive of the Alberta at Work funding expansion and other policies, but added that the group would have liked to see more capital for local companies given the surplus.