As Alberta Health Services moves toward a decentralized structure and introduces a mix of public and private health service delivery, the implications for speech-language pathologists and audiologists are still evolving. SAC-Alberta will actively monitor these developments, keep members informed, continue to highlight the diverse practice settings of our professions, and advocate to ensure the perspectives of our members are included in the implementation of these healthcare changes.
Alberta’s 2026 budget represents a record-breaking commitment to frontline services, with the government allocating $10.8 billion to education and $34.4 billion to healthcare despite a projected $9.4 billion deficit. This fiscal strategy focuses heavily on managing the pressure of rapid population growth, which has added more than 80,000 students to Alberta’s school system in recent years. For our members, the most significant news is a 7% increase in education funding and a 5.8% rise in health spending, both intended to address the mounting classroom complexity and surgical backlogs that have defined the province’s recovery.
The education sector will see a historic infusion of resources specifically aimed at students with diverse learning needs, with $1.8 billion earmarked for specialized supports. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has confirmed that funding rates for Program Unit Funding (PUF) and grants for moderate language delay and English as an Additional Language (EAL) will rise by approximately 6%. This increase is a direct response to sustained advocacy highlighting the urgent need for more resources to manage complex classrooms. As reported by the budget also includes $355 million to address class sizes and classroom complexity, which will fund the creation of multidisciplinary complexity teams composed of teachers and educational assistants. While these teams are currently focused on K-6 classrooms, their establishment marks a shift toward the collaborative, wraparound service model that SAC has long championed for speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and communication health assistants.
Funding for vulnerable Albertans is also seeing an uptick, with the Ministry of Children and Family Services receiving $1.7 billion to support its various programs. This includes $156 million specifically for prevention, intervention, and specialized mental health services for children and youth, many of whom receive these supports through the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program. The budget also introduces a new Alberta Caregiver Credit, which replaces previous provincial credits to provide up to $1,054 in tax savings for families supporting loved ones with impairments. CBC News notes that while these headline figures are impressive, advocacy groups remain cautious about whether the 800 new support staff positions will be enough to meaningfully reduce the long waitlists for specialized therapy and intervention across the province.
The healthcare sector’s transition to a four-pillar model remains the government’s primary focus, with a total spend of $34.4 billion. A significant portion of this is allocated to Primary and Preventative Health Services, where a new crown corporation called Health Shared Services (HSS) will centralize administrative functions, such as IT and human resources. While physician funding saw a massive 22% jump, funding for diagnostic, therapeutic, and other patient services, where most S-LPs and audiologists are located, is projected to increase by only 3%. As highlighted by CTV News, this 3% rise falls below the 5% to 6% typically required to account for both inflation and population aging, suggesting that clinicians will likely continue to face heavy caseloads and limited operational increases in the coming year.
SAC will continue to engage with provincial ministries to advocate for policies that push the 6% PUF increase and the complexity team funding results towards more dedicated positions for communication health professionals.
Have you seen changes in your school or clinic staffing levels due to recent complexity funding? Share your experience with our advocacy team at advocacy@sac-oac.ca.
In October 2025, the Alberta Government issued new directives, including the mandate letter to the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, outlining legislative reforms that signal an expansion of the privatization trend within the healthcare system by allowing Albertans to privately purchase diagnostic screening and testing services. The government announced plans to permit out-of-pocket payments for services such as MRIs and CT scans.
On August 15, 2025, SAC met with Primary Care Alberta to further discuss integrating S-LPs and audiologists into primary care teams. The conversation emphasized the critical role our professions play in communication, hearing, swallowing, and vestibular health. SAC is now seeking input from members to inform a policy submission outlining concrete strategies for formally including S-LPs and audiologists in primary care, with a focus on addressing service gaps, improving access, and enabling population-level and community-based initiatives.
Members are invited to share examples or policy suggestions with SAC’s advocacy team at advocacy@sac-oac.ca.
In July 2025, the Alberta government established Regional Advisory Councils representing 71 communities to provide input to the newly decentralized health agencies. These councils, which include healthcare workers, community leaders, Indigenous representatives, and municipal officials, offer SAC members a direct avenue to advocate for the inclusion of speech-language pathology and audiology services in regional health planning. An Indigenous Advisory Council was also created to ensure culturally relevant services for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.
In July 2025, SAC-Alberta met with the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, to discuss workforce challenges, scope of practice recognition, service gaps in rural regions, and the integration of S-LPs and audiologists into primary care teams. SAC highlighted the importance of strengthening rural student placement infrastructure, supporting students and clinical educators, and expanding telehealth services. The meeting was constructive, with Minister LaGrange acknowledging the role of S-LPs and audiologists and expressing commitment to continued collaboration.
On May 16, 2025, Alberta’s Premier announced the decentralization of Alberta Health Services (AHS) into several smaller agencies, each overseen by a dedicated Minister. This structural change is part of a broader plan to decentralize oversight across different pillars of healthcare by creating new healthcare agencies. including Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, and Assisted Living Alberta. While the full implications for S-LPs and audiologists remain uncertain, SAC is closely monitoring the situation and advocating for the inclusion of our professions in planning and service delivery decisions.
