Alberta鈥檚 Minister of Finance, Nate Horner, has introduced Bill 39 to implement 鈥渒ey policies of Budget 2025.

The bill makes amendments to eight other existing pieces of legislation including the Sustainable Fiscal Planning and Reporting Act, the Auditor General Act, the Alberta Corporate Tax Act, the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, the Alberta Fuel Tax Act, the Child and Family Enhancement Act, the Legal Profession Act, and the Income and Employment Supports Act.

鈥淭his legislation sets out new cuts to personal income taxes, which is keeping an important promise we made to Albertans and makes sure taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned money,鈥� said Horner, via a media release. 鈥淎t the same time, we would have more flexibility to boost the Heritage Fund and build a more secure future for our children and grandchildren.鈥�

The amendments to the Sustainable Fiscal Planning and Reporting Act will change what the province can do with surpluses; previously, under the act, the province was required to put the first 50 per cent of surplus funds towards debt repayment. With the change, the province can either repay maturing debt or put funds into the Heritage Trust Fund.

Another change to the act removes timing requirements to use surplus cash to repay debt coming due that fiscal year. A final change makes the Treasury Board responsible for surplus cash instead of the minister alone.

Under the Auditor General Act,  the provision establishing the seven-member Audit Committee would be repealed.

The release notes that the role and powers of the auditor general would not change, and their reports would continue to be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

According to the release, the committee is being removed as it is the only one of its kind in Canada and Advisory in nature, so can be removed with an eye to reducing red tape and increasing efficiency.

Under the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act and Alberta Corporate Tax Act,  a new personal tax bracket of eight per cent will be introduced for those making $60,000 or less, a supplemental tax credit for Albertas have non-refundable tax credits totalling $60,000 or more, the winding down of two previously cancelled tax credit programs, and the aligning of Alberta legislation with the federal Income Tax Act.

The personal income tax is expected to save Albertans around $750 per person per year.

Under the Legal Professions Act, the statutory contribution for Legal Aid Alberta from the Alberta Law Foundation will increase to 50 per cent from 25 per cent and require ministerial approval for all Alberta Law Foundation grants, funding commitments and gifts over $250,000.

鈥淎lbertans expect us to be responsible with their tax dollars while finding efficiencies to ensure they have access to an affordable justice system,鈥� said Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. 鈥淭hese amendments would help align the work being done on improving access to justice that is underway across the province.鈥�

Under the Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act, changes to programs that have been underway are being stopped as cost-cutting measures.

鈥淩ather than rolling out further health benefits, Alberta continues to make adoption affordable with current subsidies and tax breaks so that more children can find their forever homes,鈥� notes the release.

Finally, under the Alberta Fuel Tax Act, the locomotive fuel tax will increase to $0.065 per litre from $0.055 per litre, bringing the tax rate closer in line with other jurisdictions.

According to Horner, the changes are being done to try 鈥渙ur best to meet the needs of a vast province.鈥�