Alberta is improving its services and infrastructure to keep up with real life: a cancer system ready for more patients, surgical care that gives people more options, and municipal infrastructure that can support new homes and growing communities. Last week, our government focused on expanding that capacity so families can get the care they need, communities can plan for the future, and Albertans can count on the services they rely on every day.
Cancer touches many Albertan families, and we are taking action on how we support patients early and quickly. Through Alberta’s new 10-year Strategic Plan for Cancer to 2036, our government is setting a clear path to expand screening, speed up diagnosis, improve treatment, and strengthen supportive care across the province. The plan includes more than 40 actions focused on prevention, early detection, innovation, workforce growth, and more consistent access to care across the province. Budget 2026 builds on this work with $1.2 billion over three years for cancer care, including $223 million in new operating funding to hire more oncologists. For patients and families, this strategy is about building a cancer system that is faster, more connected, and more responsive when people need it.
Long waits for surgery can have serious impacts on patients and their families. That is why Alberta’s government is launching a dual practice model in September 2026 to increase surgical capacity and give physicians more flexibility to deliver both publicly funded and privately paid surgeries. The model will include procedures such as orthopedic surgeries, hip and knee replacements, and cataract surgeries. Emergency care, life-saving services, and cancer care will remain exclusively publicly funded. With safeguards such as minimum public-service requirements, reporting rules, and ongoing monitoring, this approach is designed to protect the public system while expanding options and helping more Albertans get lifesaving care sooner.
Communities cannot grow without the infrastructure to support them, and municipalities need practical tools to build and maintain it as their populations grow. To help meet those needs, our government is launching a new minister’s council on infrastructure financing to explore innovative ways municipalities can fund critical infrastructure without simply increasing the tax burden on Albertans. Working with municipal leaders, industry, and the Building Industry and Land Development Association, the council will examine new financing tools, partnerships, and approaches used in other jurisdictions to help meet local needs. This work, together with Budget 2026’s $7.1 billion in municipal infrastructure support, will help communities plan for growth with more flexibility and confidence.
Alberta is growing, and the services and infrastructure Albertans rely on are growing with it. By setting a long-term cancer care strategy, expanding surgical options with safeguards, and helping municipalities find better ways to fund infrastructure, our government is focused on making sure that Albertans can get care sooner, communities can build what they need, and families can count on services that are ready for the future.
As always, please free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions at Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca.