EDMONTON – The NDP government released the 2015-2016 Alberta budget Tuesday afternoon. Here are some of the highlights for Edmontonians.
Hospitals and health care funding
Two Edmonton facilities in dire need of repair—the Royal Alexandra and Misericordia hospitals—will each see just $10 million for planning in the next five years rather than funding for redevelopments themselves, when the suggested overhaul cost for the Royal Alex alone is $4.5 billion.
Alberta Health said Tuesday additional funding for the Misericordia and Royal Alex will appear in subsequent capital plans following planning and prioritization.
Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park will see $17 million over the next two years, and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic South will get $47 million over the next two years. The Stollery Children’s Hospital has been allocated $67 million over the next five years.
READ MORE: Alberta budget: Calgary cancer centre, Edmonton hospital funding still falls short
Edmonton-area roads
The Edmonton and Calgary ring roads will get $2.9 billion over the next five years, but the province declined to break down the costs any further.
The government said the northeast Henday in Edmonton is scheduled to be done in 2016, completing the city’s ring road, so the spending beyond 2016-17 is entirely for Calgary’s ring road, set to be completed in 2022.
READ MORE: Calgary, Edmonton ring roads to see $2.9B over 5 years
The 41 Avenue Interchange will see $104 million for construction this year, and the Highway 2 corridor expansion will get $6 million for planning over the next two years.
Education funding
The NDP government has put aside $581 million for new projects province-wide. This will include $124 million for the NAIT Centre for Applied Tech, $120 million for the NorQuest College expansion and retrofit and $20 million for Grant MacEwan’s City Centre Campus.
Edmonton will also see $25 million in funding for the Federal Building and Centennial Plaza.
Watch below: ‘It was challenging’: Finance Minister Joe Ceci on putting together Alberta budget 2015
Watch below: ‘Some realism in this budget would be good’: Wildrose leader reacts to Alberta budget 2015
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