Jason Nixon, MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, describes Alberta’s 2023 Budget as the best one he has seen.

Nixon says, “It’s a budget that’s really focused on making sure that Alberta’s fiscally responsible. To have another balanced budget to use Alberta taxpayer dollars appropriately, also has record investment inside health and education as well as affordability payments and rebates for Albertans to be able to help with the inflation crisis you see across the world. So all in all, it is a very exciting budget that continues to see Alberta lead the county in economic growth and fiscal management.”

Nixon says there are some exciting investments for Rocky Mountain House.

“There is $18 million dollars in the new surgical expansion at the Rocky Mountain House Hospital, which is exciting and the budget has $120 million dollars in the twinning of Highway 11 to Rocky Mountain House which is a pretty significant project and there is a tremendous amount of investment like that all across rural Alberta.”

In addition to record investments in both health and education, Nixon notes the government is also paying down debt. Nixon says there is $15 million dollars of debt repayment, allowing the government to invest in the future with almost $6 billion dollars in the Heritage City Trust Fund to make sure the province can use its resource revenue to benefit Albertans, not just for this budget cycle but for many upcoming budgets.

Nixon highlights the importance, however, of the Rocky Mountain House surgical expansion which he says is a really big deal for the community.

“We have waited a long time to get a significant investment for the Rocky Mountain House Hospital which has an impact on not only us at Clearwater County and Rocky Mountain House but those who live in our beautiful community and that is $18 million dollars invested inside the hospital.”

Nixon says other major investments in Clearwater County, Rocky Mountain House, and all of central Alberta is $1.8 billion dollars going to expand the Red Deer Reginal Hospital Centre.

“That hospital of course, is a major hospital for all of us and our health in central Alberta which is overdue and a very exciting event in the future of our area.”

Nixon feels this budget sends a strong message.

“We are seeing the largest resource revenue in the history of the province inside this budget and that allows us to invest in these significant infrastructure upgrades and programs that Albertans rely on. We continue to be bullish about the oil and gas industry and that has paid off in a big way for Alberta.”

Nixon says the budget also shows the government can invest in these major infrastructure projects and in things Albertans need with being able to still have a balanced budget and be fiscally responsible.

“We are passing a balance budget law that will make sure the budget will remain balanced going forward so we can’t find ourselves in a spot inherited from the last NDP government. Paying down $15 billion dollars in debt and $6 billion dollars going to Heritage City Trust Fund, with still making record investments for important programs like education and health, really shows it is a very fiscally responsible budget but dedicated as well to helping Albertans face the affordability crisis and make our lives better.”