Courtesy: Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair FB Page
On Thursday, our government released the 2025 budget, and I find most of it, at best, disappointing and, at worst, unacceptable for Albertans. I don’t know who it’s meant to serve, but it certainly isn’t for me, my family, my friends, or my constituents.
The budget projects a $5 billion deficit this year, with additional deficits forecasted for the next three years. While I’m relieved that we’re finally implementing a tax cut, there’s little else to celebrate. In fact, I’m furious at the amount of money being funneled into Edmonton and Calgary (as usual) while Northern Alberta and our riding are largely ignored. The continuous flow of our GDP to urban centers while rural Alberta— the backbone of this province— gets left behind is appalling. It feels like we’re dealing with a provincial version of federal equalization payments, with rural communities footing the bill for the big cities.
Everyone knows I’m a huge Oilers/Sports fan, but I would never prioritize funding arena projects in major cities while essential infrastructure projects, like Highway 88 in our riding, remain incomplete. If the government insists on running multiple deficits (which I strongly oppose), then I would expect to see real investments in one-time infrastructure projects for Northern Alberta— fixing our roads, bridges, building new schools, and upgrading regional airports. After all, most of the revenue that funds this province comes from here. Balancing the scales for once shouldn’t be too much to ask.
And if we’re going to continue pouring billions into healthcare, maybe we should stop closing our hospitals, bring back local maternity services, perform surgeries closer to home, and finally build the heli-pad in High Prairie. Healthcare in Northern Alberta has hit rock bottom, and while I hear about positive changes happening elsewhere, they aren’t happening here. How are we expected to accept multiple emergency department closures when the nearest care is hours away?
Here are just a few examples from the budget:
• $2.9 billion for LRT projects in Calgary and Edmonton
• $2.6 billion for schools (but none in our riding— mostly for Calgary and Edmonton)
• $9 million for 50 new police officers in Edmonton
• $106 million to Edmonton to demolish Northlands, develop a recreation park, and create a community gathering space
I’m a team player, but I was elected to stand up for our region— and right now, this feels like the only option I have left. The coming week will be tough on me and my family, but I hope you all understand why I have to take this stand. The balance of power in cabinet remains in the big cities, and they continue to take ridings like Lesser Slave Lake for granted.
I don’t know who this budget is meant for, but if Trudeau’s former cabinet minister, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, is thrilled about it— then it’s probably not for Northern Alberta. It’s certainly not for our riding, and it’s definitely not for the majority of Albertans who love this province.
This budget is indefensible for the Lesser Slave Lake Constituency, and I will not support or vote for it “as is” without significant changes. I’ll have more to say in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Scott Sinclair
MLA, Lesser Slave Lake
