Alberta announces $7.7B investment in physician recruitment in 2026-27 budget

The Alberta government said it will invest $7.7 billion in physician services, recruitment and education in the 2026–27 budget, a 22% increase from Budget 2025, and reported 13,008 physicians registered at the end of 2025.

The provincial government announced a $7.7 billion package for physician services, recruitment, training and compensation in the 2026–27 budget. Officials said the amount is 22% higher than the 2025 budget, an increase the government described as aimed at supporting physicians and attracting doctors across urban, rural and remote communities. The announcement in Edmonton was presented alongside recent data on physician supply and public access to care. Health ministers and the Alberta Medical Association are preparing to negotiate a new collective agreement in March. Details: - The province said the $7.7 billion includes $7.3 billion for physician services, $450 million for recruitment and education, and $15 million for other supports. - The government stated the increase is about $1.4 billion more than Budget 2025, a 22% rise. - The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta reported 13,008 physicians registered at the end of 2025, an increase of 796 from the same period in 2024. - Officials, including Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, said the funding is intended to support competitive compensation and a new primary care compensation model being discussed with the Alberta Medical Association. - Critics and analysts cited an Angus Reid Institute report that Alberta has fewer family physicians per capita than a decade ago, and some opposition figures said it is unclear whether the new funding will increase doctor-to-patient numbers. - The announcement came as the province was winding down a flu season that included lengthy emergency room waits and hospitals operating over capacity. Summary: The budget introduces a larger, targeted funding package for physician services and recruitment and sets the stage for collective-bargaining talks with the Alberta Medical Association in March. Public reports and opposition comments note lingering questions about whether the additional funds will translate into higher doctor-to-patient ratios and improved access for patients, and those outcomes remain undetermined at this time.