Budget will help Alberta cope with rapid growth: Oberg

Alberta's finance minister says Thursday's budget will primarily focus on boosting infrastructure spending — for things like roads, schools and hospitals — to help the province deal with its rapid economic growth.

"I think everyone recognizes that there are a lot of needs in Alberta and a lot of growth pressures in Alberta and what this budget is going to be about quite simply is managing those growth pressures," Lyle Oberg told CBC News on Wednesday.

Oberg said an increase in funding for infrastructure projects is in order because of the massive influx of people into Alberta from other regions of Canada in search of work.

"We had over 100,000 people come into the province last year and that means new schools, it means new hospitals, it means new roads — all of those things that keep this economy going."

A government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Canadian Press that "this is very big budget" with as much as $33 billion in spending, including moneyfor building projects.

Gene Syvenky, the chief executive officer of the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association, said he hopes the budget also includes money to maintain existing infrastructure, including crumbling blacktop.

Calgary and Edmonton need to finish their ring roads, highways need extra lanes and bridges need to be built, he said.

Syvenky said the province recently allocated about $120 million a year to refurbish roads and highways, but he would like the government to double the amount.

"In addition to the new roads, I'm looking for funding to maintain what we already have. Alberta used to be well-known for its roads being top of the world and I don't think it's quite the same anymore," Syvenky said.