Construction Labour Relations Alberta (CLRA) continued its Industry Insights breakfast series on March 17th, welcoming Infrastructure Minister Martin Long for a discussion on Alberta’s capital plan and the workforce challenges facing the construction sector. Launched in January of this year, the Industry Insights series was created to give CLRA board members, industry partners and stakeholders visibility into upcoming project priorities, policy developments and trends shaping Alberta’s construction sector. Minister Long provided an overview of the government’s three-year, $28.3 billion Capital Plan and spoke to the pressures that Alberta’s rapid population growth is placing on infrastructure and the skilled trades workforce. For CLRA members, this level of sustained investment translates directly into increased project flow, stronger workforce demand and a growing pipeline of work for the skilled contractors our members represent. This year’s provincial budget also includes significant workforce investments relevant to our members, including a nearly 25% increase in apprenticeship funding, $96 million through the Apprenticeship Learning Grant, $384 million for NAIT’s Advanced Skills Centre and $115 million for broader workforce strategies. For a full breakdown of what the budget means for Alberta’s construction sector, read our detailed analysis here. Minister Long and Deputy Minister Mark Kleefeld took questions from

Last week’s provincial budget delivered a major commitment to Alberta’s construction sector. With the theme of Focused on What Matters, Budget 2026’s three-year Capital Plan is forecast at $28.3 billion, which is a $2.2 billion increase from Budget 2025. For 2026-27, capital spending is forecast at $8.7 billion; $48 million more than estimated in Budget 2025. This historic increase in capital investment is directed at public services infrastructure across the province including schools, hospitals, and critical community facilities to better meet Alberta’s growing population demands. For construction employers, this budget represents a significant and sustained opportunity. The scale of capital spending being deployed means increased project flow, stronger workforce demand, and a growing need for the kind of skilled and experienced contractors that CLRA represents. We continue to work with the government to ensure our members are actively considered for these projects. However, the increased spending does create fiscal challenges for the province. Last week’s provincial budget highlighted the challenges of declining resource revenues and rising cost pressures, with total spending rising to $83.9 billion, up from $4.5 billion last year, and a $9.4 billion deficit is projected for 2026-27. Detailed information on the budget can be found on the

New population projections from Statistics Canada and analysis from ATB Financial show Alberta is set to lead the country in growth over the next 25 years. For the construction industry, more people means more demand for housing, infrastructure and commercial development. The Numbers Alberta’s population will grow by between 1.4 and 3.1 million people over the next 25 years depending on which growth scenario unfolds. Under medium projected growth, the province’s population grows from about 5 million residents today to over 7.3 million by 2050, a 46% increase – the highest of any province. The national population will grow by a more modest 17% over the same period. Alberta’s population growth is at least double the national average in all scenarios. Annual growth in Alberta will average 1.5% over the projection period compared to 0.6% nationally. International migration will account for just over half of Alberta’s population growth to 2050, with interprovincial migration accounting for 29.4% and natural increase accounting for 18.5%. Alberta is one of only two provinces projected to see ongoing gains from interprovincial migration, meaning people are choosing to move here from other parts of Canada. What This Means for Construction A population increase of 2.3 million