February 28, 2023

For the past four years I have been advocating tirelessly for improved transportation, more schools and better access to healthcare in our riding of Airdrie-East. And I’m proud to report that our United Conservative government’s 2023 budget is addressing all of these concerns.

One of the biggest wins for our riding is that the province will be investing $51 million to replace the interchange at the Queen Elizabeth II Highway and Highway 566 at Balzac. The Balzac industrial area has seen rapid and extensive growth with the additions of the Amazon Wearhouse and the Walmart fulfillment Centre. With a new and improved interchange, it will spur continued growth, more jobs and investment in our area for years to come. Upgrading this interchange will also greatly improve safety for motorists and reduce the traffic congestion that’s become a serious issue for drivers. This investment combined with the 40th avenue interchange will make the commute to and from

work or recreational activities safer and more convenient for everyone.

Our government also recognizes the healthcare challenges facing communities across the province. It’s why we’re investing an additional $965 million to improve ambulance response times, decrease ER and surgical wait times, and attract more frontline health workers to deliver the care patients expect and deserve. Not only are we increasing funding to add more frontline nurses, doctors and EMS staff, but our government is also investing $18 million over 3 years for planning new healthcare centers, including $3 million to lay the groundwork for a North Calgary/Airdrie Regional Health Centre.

This funding from the province will allow us to start working on a plan for a Health Centre to meet the needs of our community for years to come. This funding will move the needle on the healthcare challenges that have plagued our community for many years. I’m optimistic that with proper planning, we will see the North Calgary/Airdrie Regional Health Centre realized. In the meantime, our government is also investing $84.7 million over 3 years for the Peter Lougheed Centre Emergency Department, Mental Health Intensive Care Unit and Laboratory Redevelopment.

Other highlights include continued funding for the 40th avenue interchange which is expected to be completed next Fall. The Alberta government’s Capital Plan also provides $372 million for the design and construction of new and modernized schools, including investments here in Airdrie, more information will be announced about that in the coming weeks.

The Alberta government will also be investing millions into recreational infrastructure like the MNP Community & Sport Centre (formerly the Repsol Sport Centre), The Calgary Zoo and the Telus Spark Science Centre, ensuring our children have access to high quality educational and recreational opportunities. 

In addition to all the good news, our United Conservative government remains committed to our fiscal principals. Budget 2023 maintains balance with surpluses forecast for the next 3 years. We’re keeping the net debt-to-GDP ratio below 30%, at 10.2% in 2023-24. Finally, $13.4 billion was used to pay down provincial debt in 2022-23 while $1.4 billion is expected to be used in 2023-24 to pay it down further. Additionally, our government is making changes to the Heritage Savings Trust Fund. By ensuring the earnings are reinvested into the fund and not added to general revenues, we will see significant annual growth in the Heritage Fund. Planning for the future will ensure we set up future generations of Albertans for success.

As your MLA for Airdrie-East I’m extremely proud to present these highlights to you. Our government is focused on securing Alberta’s future by growing the economy, creating good-paying jobs, strengthening health care and education, and keeping Alberta communities safe. I look forward to continuing to work hard and advocate for the needs of our community.

Angela Pitt