Travis Toews discusses the budget with the public (photo by Liam Verster)

By Liam Verster

Budget 2019

Toews discusses Budget 2019 in Grande Prairie

Nov 22, 2019 | 3:09 PM

The Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce hosted Travis Toews for a public presentation and discussion on Budget 2019.

The President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Finance, and MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti, told the crowd that the government plans to cut spending by 2.8 percent over the next four years, in an effort to create fiscal responsibility.

Toews says while cuts are coming, none are expected for school boards or health care. He says funding will increase for health care, and a new funding formula is being created for schools, which has caused some challenges but should even out in the long run.

“Our Education Minister is working to provide as much flexibility as possible within the total budget envelope so that school boards can make decisions to manage well and effectively, and ensure the maximum amount of resources are in front of students and classrooms during this transition year. At the same time, they’re developing a new funding formula that will encourage a shared services amongst school boards, drive efficiencies, and ensure it’s out in front of school boards early enough so that they can plan well.”

Toews says part of their plans to reduce funding includes collapsing committees, such as the Sport Connector Committee, which was dissolved on Thursday, November 21, as part of Bill 22. However, Toews says the loss of that committee will not affect the Sport Connection Alberta program.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“[Bill 22] basically collapses the committee, but all the activity and function go to the government department. So the funding will continue, the projects will continue through the government department. This is part of a broader move to streamline the way we deliver services in the province. It’s part of streamlining government, finding efficiencies, and all in the greater effort of delivering more efficiently to Albertans.”

In the wake of the City of Grande Prairie cutting jobs in an effort to find savings, Toews says many municipalities, including Grande Prairie, find themselves in a similar situation to the province.

“We’ve had years of prosperity, where we’ve been an outlier in the country in terms of incomes, and certainly government revenues. And we no longer are the outlier in the country, so we all, whether it’s municipalities or the province, we have to, over time in a thoughtful way, learn to deliver more efficiently and effectively.”

He adds that restraints include trying to cut public sector remunerations.

Toews says he’s spoken with Albertans across the province, and they are in support of the United Conservative Party’s efforts to reduce spending.

“By and large, we’ve had tremendous support from Albertans around this budget. Albertans, I think, fundamentally realize that we cannot live beyond our means, and this budget is a surgical, thoughtful approach to gradually reducing spending, in less than three percent over four years, and managing our finances responsibly.”

He adds that he’s taking the concerns and thoughts of the public, and will consider the input when they put together the next budget. However, he does say they will try to stay on track with their four year fiscal plan.

The Chamber of Commerce live streamed the presentation at Centre 2000 on their Facebook page. The video can be viewed below.