Alberta government investing $193 million to create nearly 8,000 new seats in high-demand post-secondary programs across province; Opposition says “another abrupt policy reversal on the eve of the election doesn’t undo the profound damage the UCP has done to our post-secondary schools and our healthcare system”

News Release

Adding thousands of new post-secondary seats

Alberta’s government is investing $193 million to create nearly 8,000 new seats in high-demand post-secondary programs across the province.

Alberta continues to be the economic engine of Canada. Alberta’s economy has momentum and the government is focused on even more job creation and diversification. This investment will help ensure students can access the skills and training they need, close to home, to build successful careers and secure Alberta’s future.

The Budget 2023 funding represents Alberta’s single largest investment for a targeted enrolment expansion initiative. This historic investment builds off last year’s success, which saw Alberta’s government create nearly 10,000 new post-secondary seats across the province. This represented the largest targeted seat expansion in Alberta’s history.

“Last year, we announced an investment of $171 million to create 10,000 new spaces at our universities and colleges. Today, we are investing another $111 million to create another 3,000 spaces. This is the largest targeted expansion of seats in Alberta history and will ensure young Albertans can get into the programs they want, right here at home.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education
This $193-million investment will fund new seats in high-demand programs such as health care, technology and business, with:

$87 million to continue programs announced in 2022 so students can complete their four-year programs.
$10 million over three years to create more than 1,100 new seats for business, technology and other programs at 23 post-secondary institutions across the province.
$6 million over four years to create 120 new seats in Mount Royal University’s bachelor of aviation management program.
$3.6 million over three years in tech talent funding to create 300 new seats at five post-secondary institutions.
$86 million to expand health care training programs with:
$20 million over three years to create 120 new physician seats at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.
$44 million over three years to create 1,400 new seats in health-related programs (registered nurses, health care aides, licensed practical nurses, nursing coordinators and supervisors, paramedical occupations and other technicians).
$22 million over three years to create 2,100 additional seats in nurse bridging programs for internationally educated nurses.
“We are committed to growing our health care workforce and ensuring we have the spaces available for Alberta’s students to continue their education. The increase in post-secondary health care training program spaces will help address staffing needs and build a stronger health care system for Albertans.”

Jason Copping, Minister of Health
Programs receiving funding in 2023 are chosen based on workforce needs, learner demand and institutional capacity, among other criteria. Priority sectors being funded include health care, technology and business. Of the new seats receiving funding, more than 3,400 are in health care training programs.

“This investment by the province will help build UCalgary’s capacity to meet the growing demand for high-quality medical education, particularly in areas like family medicine, which will help to address the physician shortage and provide better long-term health care for Albertans.”

Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary
Budget 2023 secures Alberta’s future by transforming the health care system to meet people’s needs, supporting Albertans with the high cost of living, keeping our communities safe and driving the economy with more jobs, quality education and continued diversification.

New programs receiving Budget 2023 targeted enrolment expansion funding

Program

Dollars

Seats

Calgary

$22,821,963

850

Alberta University of the Arts

Object Design and Fabrication

394,704

Ambrose University

Bachelor of Arts (Behavioural Science)

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)

537,599

Bow Valley College

Practical Nurse (Online)

736,696

Bow Valley College

3D Animation

488,952

Bow Valley College

Advanced Visual Effects

466,670

Bow Valley College

Advanced Game Development

452,360

Mount Royal University

Bachelor of Science in Data Science

$4,035,499

250

SAIT

Primary Care Paramedic

$1,325,568

SAIT

Advanced Care Paramedic

$1,606,134

SAIT

Business Intelligence: Data Analysis and Reporting

$370,900

St. Mary’s University

Master of Education in Catholic Leadership

$230,235

University of Calgary

Master of Physician Assistant

$6,845,274

University of Calgary

Bachelor of Nursing

$5,331,372

Central

$10,537,956

388

Burman University

Bachelor of Business Administration

1,209,280

Olds College

Animal Health Technology

$562,326

Red Deer Polytechnic

Administrative Professional

$96,031

Red Deer Polytechnic

Pharmacy Technician

$551,096

Red Deer Polytechnic

Medical Device Technologist

$681,073

University of Alberta

(Augustana Campus)

Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology

$2,539,652

University of Alberta

(Augustana Campus)

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

$2,473,076

University of Alberta

(Augustana Campus)

Master of Science in Physical Therapy

$2,425,422

Edmonton

$13,759,475

517

Concordia University of Edmonton

Bachelor of Management

$1,242,299

Concordia University of Edmonton

Master of Information System Security Management

$194,762

Concordia University of Edmonton

Master of Information System Assurance Management

$194,762

MacEwan University

Psychiatric Nursing Diploma

$2,172,041

MacEwan University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

$3,048,435

144

NAIT

Advanced Care Paramedic
Primary Care Paramedic

$2,308,859

NorQuest College

Medical Device Reprocessing Technician

$1,060,197

The King’s University

Bachelor of Commerce, Information Systems Concentration

$269,240

University of Alberta

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science

$2,660,400

University of Alberta

Master of Science in Public Health

$288,480

University of Alberta

Course-Based Master’s Program in Modeling, Data and Predictions

$320,000

Northeast

$2,048,665

189

Keyano College

Bachelor of Science Nursing

$738,050

Keyano College

Primary Care Paramedic

$435,615

Portage College

Paramedicine

$875,000

Northwest

$2,420,455

608

Athabasca University

Post-Licensed Practical Nurse Bachelor of Nursing

494,000

Athabasca University

Bachelor of Science (Major in Computing and Information Systems)

143,000

360

Northern Lakes College

Post-Licensed Practical Nurse Bachelor of Nursing

$429,090

Northwestern Polytechnic

Practical Nurse

$985,777

Northwestern Polytechnic

Primary Care Paramedic

$368,587

South

$6,101,506

288

Medicine Hat College

Practical Nurse

$2,105,084

University of Lethbridge

Bachelor of Nursing (with Lethbridge College)

$1,887,304

University of Lethbridge

Bachelor of Science Computer Science

$1,746,276

100

University of Lethbridge

Graduate Certificate in Data Science

$362,842

Grand Total

$57,690,019

2,840

The grand total of $57.6 million in the chart above reflects the:
$44 million to create 1,400 new seats in health-related programs.
$10 million to create more than 1,100 new seats for business, technology and other programs.
$3.6 million in tech talent funding to create 300 new seats in technology programs.

Media Statement

David Shepherd, Alberta NDP Critic for Health, made the following statement in response to Jason Copping’s and Demetrios Nicolaides’ comments on post-secondary spaces for healthcare programs:

“Danielle Smith and the UCP have caused tuition costs to skyrocket by cutting hundreds of millions of dollars out of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions and imposing additional interest on student debt. Yet another abrupt policy reversal on the eve of the election doesn’t undo the profound damage the UCP has done to our post-secondary schools and our healthcare system.

“Smith and the UCP have pushed post-secondary education out of reach for many Albertans, and even the recent rate “freeze” turned out to be another UCP fake. Just like utilities bills and car insurance, tuition costs are continuing to soar.

“While more post-secondary spaces for future healthcare workers are welcome, we must end the UCP chaos in healthcare to attract the workers we need. Thousands of scheduled nursing shifts are going unfilled every month because of the UCP’s war on healthcare workers.

“I’m very proud that the Alberta NDP is committed to not only freezing tuition but reversing the most recent tuition increases approved by Danielle Smith and the UCP. We will also connect a million Alberta with a family doctor and a Family Health Team.”

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