Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says he believes that Lethbridge will benefit from the new provincial budget, March 2, 2023. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

MLA Neudorf says Lethbridge will greatly benefit from provincial budget

Mar 2, 2023 | 12:50 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The MLA for Lethbridge-East is rebuking claims that Budget 2023 does little for the city.

Nathan Neudorf, who also serves as Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure, is providing comments after the new provincial budget was unveiled on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.

He says Finance Minister Travis Toews did a great job of putting together a budget that is fiscally responsible and also helps everyday Albertans.

“We have been able to pay down debt. We have been able to put money away in the Heritage Savings Trust Fund for the first time in, it feels like decades,” says Neudorf. “There’s appropriate growth to match inflation and population growth in some key sectors, and we’ve got some really strong capital projects that we’ve been able to invest it.”

Neudorf continues, “I’m very pleased with the balance that he [Toews] has been able to achieve in all of that, as well as presenting a balanced budget, which I think a lot of Albertans want and expect.”

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Not everyone was happy with the contents of the new budget, however, as both Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips and Mayor Blaine Hyggen have said Lethbridge was largely ignored.

One thing they were disappointed in was the lack of funding for a catheterization lab at Chinook Regional Hospital.

Neudorf says this was added to Alberta Health Service’s list of wanted projects for Lethbridge very recently.

“This one was not put forward as a top priority for the region. Now, I still believe it’s on the list and I will continue to advocate for it,” says Neudorf. “It was felt that the higher priorities coming from AHS were the surgical initiative and renal program, and both of those have been funded.”

READ MORE: MLA Phillips calls Alberta budget “fraudulent” and designed to buy votes

READ MORE: Lethbridge Mayor vocalizes disappointment in wake of Alberta Budget 2023

Overall, the assertion that Lethbridge was ignored in the budget is one that Neudorf says he does not agree with.

He explains that the budget touches on all five of the City of Lethbridge’s main asks, which are the expansions to the Lethbridge Airport and Lethbridge and District Exhibition, University of Lethbridge deferred maintenance, broadband internet, and the twinning of Highway 3.

Neudorf also mentioned funding for three school projects in the city, supportive housing, irrigation, upgrades to the Lethbridge Courthouse, and planning for upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant.

As well, the MLA says the budget includes funding for province-wide initiatives that will benefit Lethbridge.

“We’ve hit some of the major funding initiatives we’ve wanted, which is education, advanced education, some of that is in programming,” says Neudorf, “Healthcare, in terms of tens of millions of dollars for doctors, [Alberta] Surgical Initiative, renal [dialysis] program. We have huge amounts of funding for mental health and addictions, some of that is ongoing.”

Neudorf says a “major announcement” regarding disability supports is scheduled for Monday, March 6, 2023.

See more coverage of the 2023 Alberta budget below:

Alberta Budget 2023 includes investments in school infrastructure

UCP unveils budget it says secures Alberta’s future

Alberta budget includes $23 billion for infrastructure

Provincial investments aim to bolster public safety

Education budget supports hiring of 3,000 staff

Health care budget aims to tackle wait times and doctor shortage

Budget’s affordability measures total $2.3 B this year

Province to invest in mental health, addictions, social housing

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