Calgary-Elbow MLA Samir Kayande (left) and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips (right) reacted to the 2024 provincial budget. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Alberta budget doesn’t keep up with inflation, population growth: Phillips

Mar 22, 2024 | 3:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A local politician is giving her take on the Government of Alberta’s 2024 budget.

Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips, along with Calgary-Elbow MLA Samir Kayande, spoke to a Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce audience on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Phillips says Albertans everywhere have had to deal with the very real impacts of inflation in their personal lives and on their businesses, but believes that “there is only one person in this province that doesn’t understand inflation and that’s [Premier] Danielle Smith.”

“This is a budget that does not keep up with the challenges of inflation – not for our healthcare and education systems, and certainly not for overall affordability for ordinary Albertans. In addition, Lethbridge remains forgotten in terms of key investments that we need to see in our city to keep up with growth,” she adds.

On education alone, Phillips explains that there are at least two new infrastructure projects that remain unfunded for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, either for building new schools or major renovations for existing ones, as well as another seven in the Lethbridge School Division.

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She says those are not the only struggles the local school system faces.

“We know that there are thousands of new kids coming into the system this year and there is no provision in this budget to have the teachers and educational assistants and other help for them when they arrive, so, not only are we going to have crowded classrooms, but there are going to be fewer supports for them when they get there,” says Phillips.

Phillips also called it a “nothing budget” when it comes to healthcare. She believes it does not do enough to attract and retain doctors, whether they be family practitioners or specialists, and does not increase the overall capacity of the health system to keep up with Alberta’s high population growth.

Statistics Canada reports that Alberta lead the country in population growth in 2023, growing by 61,118 residents.

READ MORE: Alberta lead Canada in population growth in Q3

One thing the MLA says Albertans of all political stripes can agree on is that more needs to be done to address affordability and the cost of living.

She says it would have been great to see the city’s other MLA, Nathan Neudorf, use his authorities as the Minister of Affordability and Utilities to help bring down the costs of lighting and heating our homes.

“There was no indication that they are going to cap utility rates,” says Phillips. “They are going to take what [Neudorf] called a ‘systemic approach,’ which means that he is going to kick the ball down the field for another day. But people are feeling the pinch right now and they need the government to act today.”

Back in February, Finance Minister Nate Horner touted Budget 2024 as a “responsible plan for a growing province.” He highlighted the fact that the budget is balanced and includes increases to health and education funding.

READ MORE: ‘Responsible plan for a growing province’: Alberta reveals balanced budget, boosting health care and education funding

READ MORE: ‘Healthcare is doomed’: Shannon Phillips reacts to Alberta budget

READ MORE: U of L receives $43 million to create Rural Medical Teaching School

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