Alberta Budget 2025 Highlights

Mar 4

Budget 2025 was released on Thursday, February 27 and we’ve pulled together high-level highlights for the nonprofit sector in key Ministries. Overall, the budget itself doesn’t make many waves. There are few new major investments, modest increases in many areas, and some decreases in grants available to community nonprofits.

There are, however, changes in emphasis on where and how funds are spent. We’ve identified a few items that may have particular relevance to nonprofits, but encourage you to dig more deeply into the areas relevant to you. Some examples include: substantially more funding for Employment and Income Supports; the Government of Alberta taking over administration of $100 million in homelessness funding to provide directly to frontline agencies; changes in addictions prevention and treatment funding; and a large increase in the Renewable Electricity Program.

Arts, Culture and Status of Women

This Ministry saw an overall decrease in funding largely due to decreases in capital grants, including the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Grant, and the provincial Support for Culture Infrastructure. The Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) remained stable at $50 million in this budget cycle and is scheduled to return to its pre-pandemic $25 million in next year’s budget, while the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) saw a decrease of $2 million due to completing its commitment to the Creative Partnerships Program. The Alberta Foundation of the Arts received a $4.5 million increase in funding. The Ministry also made a commitment, paired with performance metrics, to “promote and support non-profit organizations” by working to revitalize waning volunteerism alongside community partners.

Arts, Culture and Status of Women Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	253,197	244,442	222,049
Capital Investment	2,331	1,431	2,331

Indigenous Relations

This Ministry saw a significant increase to the First Nations Development Fund, a granting program for social, community and economic development available to First Nations and funded by provincially-owned slot machines at First Nations casinos. The budget for the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, which supports Indigenous groups to invest in natural resource projects in Alberta, was cut in half from $4million to $2million.

Indigenous Relations Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	215,063	232,979	230,284
Capital Investment	25	25	25

Seniors, Community and Social Services

The largest increase in this Ministry went to Employment and Income Supports, including a nearly $300 million increase for “income supports to people working or expected to work.” Increases also went to seniors’ supports and continuing care, with a focus on home and community care (as opposed to facility-based care). Budgetary increases, both operating and capital, were given to housing, with new affordable units as the performance metric in the Ministry’s business plan. More funding is going to planning, delivery and shelters for the homeless, while the budget for Homeless Support Outreach has decreased. AISH and Community Supports and Family Safety saw a decrease, while Disability Services saw an increase.

Seniors, Community and Social Services Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	9,299,034	9,247,634	10,255,349
Capital Investment	4,072	8,765	4,072

Children and Family Services

There is a significant increase in the Child Intervention Delivery budget, with a key performance metric of “percentage of children in family-based care” – meaning children placed with parents and relatives. Increases were also made to the Alberta Family and Child Benefit and Women’s Shelters. There was a slight decrease in funding for Prevention of Family and Sexual Abuse.

Children and Family Services Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	1,147,670	1,151,920	1,225,203
Capital Investment	2,597	6,789	1,310

Mental Health and Addiction

Recovery Alberta saw a $25 million increase (over forecast spent). Funding was decreased for Prevention and Early Intervention, which includes addiction prevention, initiatives to increase access to services and harm reduction services. Community Treatment and Recovery Services saw a significant increase.

Mental Health and Addiction Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	1,554,712	1,692,214	1,775,525
Capital Investment	5,025	6,025	16,625

Tourism and Sport

Less funding is available this year for sport, physical activity and recreation through grants to organizations and individuals.

Tourism Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	135,916	135,916	133,983
Capital Investment	25	25	25

Immigration and Multiculturalism

Funding for programs that attract newcomers to Alberta to support its labour needs decreased slightly. Newcomers and multicultural support increased slightly.

Immigration and Multiculturalism Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	41,823	40,421	41,823
Capital Investment	25	25	25

Jobs, Economy and Trade

There is an overall increase to Child Care and a decrease in capital grants for Child Care Affordability and Access. This is the final year of the current Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, with a new agreement currently in negotiation.

Jobs, Economy and Trade Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	1,763,977	1,850,608	2,216,618
Capital Investment	14,650	25,148	8,150

Justice

There has been a significant reduction to Legal Aid, from $110 million to $88 million.

Justice Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	680,214	683,114	692,601
Capital Investment	14,119	14,119	17,599

Public Safety and Emergency Services

There is a $5.5 million decrease to Community and Public Safety Services, which includes crime prevention, restorative justice, indigenous services and Human Trafficking Office and Victims’ Services. However, an increase is budgeted to Law Enforcement Oversight, which includes Integrated Community Safety and Specialized Policing, among other items. More information is needed to understand if priorities are shifting or simply being funded differently. Large increases went to Alberta Sheriffs, both operating and capital. Increases were also made for grants to municipalities with their own policing and the Provincial Security Intelligence Office.

Public Safety and Emergency Services Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	1,179,216	1,223,645	1,243,209
Capital Investment	12,275	16,018	23,315

Advanced Education

Post-Secondary Institutions and Indigenous Education saw budget increases, while there is a decrease for Private Career College Program Delivery Support. There is a budgeted increase to Student Aid Delivery Support, but a slight decrease in Student Aid Grants, and no change in Scholarships and Awards. Foundational Learning Assistance Grants, which helps students transition into post-secondary studies by funding tuition, fees, books and some living cost, experienced a budgetary decrease.

Advanced Education Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	2,749,475	2,718,408	2,834,146
Capital Investment	50	250	1,050

Affordability and Utilities

The substantial increase in the Ministry is largely due to investment in the Renewable Electricity Program, which is described as “costs incurred” by development and generation of renewable infrastructure and contributes. It also includes an increase to the Utilities Consumer Advocate.

Affordability and Utilities Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	41,286	42,536	119,581
Capital Investment	25	25	25

Environment and Protected Areas

Air Policy, Fisheries Management, and Wildlife Management see slight increases, while Fish and Wildlife Policy sees a significant increase. Land Policy and Water Policy saw significant decreases.

Environment and Protected Areas Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	559,211	435,805	550,024
Capital Investment	65,550	14,538	45,231

Forest and Parks

In Forests, a slight increase in Wildfire Suppression has been budgeted, and no budget has been allocated to Wildfire Presuppression and Response. Parks Delivery, Parks Planning and Business Supports see an increase, while no capital grants have been budgeted for parks. Capital grants for Lands have been significantly reduced.

Forest and Parks Budget, 2025-26

(thousands of dollars)
	2024-25 Budget	2024-25 Forecast	2025-26 Estimate
Expense	364,842	614,822	364,929
Capital Investment	128,145	110,072	45,231

Health

Budgets for Drugs and Supplemental Health Benefits were increased in this year’s budget, while drug and health benefits for seniors saw a decrease. Health benefits for AISH recipients, children and recipients of Alberta Aids to Daily Living remain static.

Health Budget, 2025-26