EDMONTON—The Government of Alberta’s 2025 Budget fails to provide adequate funding for vital public services, impacting staff and the Albertans who rely on services the most, says the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
As the province’s population grows and inflation rises, government investment must keep pace to maintain quality services and manageable workloads for staff.
Budget 2025 falls far short of keeping up with Albertans’ needs, underfunding public services by almost $1 billion in 2025-26 alone and more than $3 billion between 2024 and 2027.
“This government has released yet another bad news budget at the expense of critical public services,” says AUPE Vice-President Sandra Azocar.
For example, the Ministry of Children and Family Services is not receiving a staff increase (0 new Full-Time Equivalents) and the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services is only receiving a 1 per cent increase in staffing (32 new Full-Time Equivalents).
The government also projects deficits of $5.2, $2.4, and $2 billion over the next three years––which it largely blames on the looming threat of U.S. tariffs.
However, the government has a history of understating revenues. In Budget 2024, the government anticipated a small surplus of $0.4B. In reality, the surplus turned out to be $5.8B.
For the 82,000 AUPE members currently negotiating new collective agreements, this budget shows the government is unwilling to offer a fair deal at the bargaining table.
“Budget 2025 and the government’s three-year fiscal plan is a blueprint to starve health care, education, and public service workers into submission,” says Azocar.
“Is the government moving money around to help hard-working Albertans, or are they manufacturing a deficit so that the government can cry poor at the bargaining table?”
“AUPE members are prepared to fight for what we deserve – on the picket line if necessary.”
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Vice-President Sandra Azocar is available immediately for comment.
To arrange an interview, please contact:
Jon Olsen, AUPE Communications Officer: j.olsen@aupe.org or 780-904-0876