Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton - The Government of Alberta’s 2026 budget signals a troubling step backward for wildlife conservation, placing increased pressure on grizzly bears, wolves, and cougars across the province with reduced funding for key conservation programs.
Alberta’s 2026 budget prioritizes resource development and regulatory efficiency while overlooking the well-established economic value of protecting nature. It offers few concrete commitments to biodiversity conservation, species recovery, or the long-term stewardship of public lands. This stands in contrast to the clear and consistent support from Albertans for stronger wildlife protections, responsible land use, and growth that respects ecological limits.
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy is closely reviewing the 2026 budget in the context of the province’s stated environmental and wildlife priorities. Budget 2026 projects a $9.4 billion deficit for 2026-27 and emphasizes spending restraint, streamlining, and red tape reduction across government.
Within that fiscal context, the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas has put species at risk squarely in its 2026–29 business plan. The ministry states, under Key Objective 1.8, that it will “Enhance Alberta’s species at risk management through modernized legislation and policy and negotiation of protocols and agreements to safeguard Alberta’s jurisdiction,” and also commits to protecting and sustainably managing fish and wildlife “through policy solutions, pilot programs, and partnerships.” The same business plan allocates $27 million for caribou recovery planning and actions in 2026-27, as well as $10 million through the Land Stewardship Fund for ecosystem services and private land conservation.
The 2026-27 Estimates show Environment and Protected Areas with $452.768 million in expense, $16.694 million in capital investment, and $1.147 million in financial transactions. Forestry and Parks is budgeted at $382.209 million in expense and $146.546 million in capital investment. Within Forestry and Parks, the Estimates include a dedicated Hunting and Angling program, described as providing “angling and hunting opportunities through effective fish and wildlife management.” The Estimates also show the Hunting and Angling program at $12.807 million in expense for 2026–27, down from a 2025–26 forecast of $16.711 million, while Hunting and Angling capital investment is listed at $22.600 million for 2026–27.
The Fiscal Plan further states that Forestry and Parks’ 2026–27 operating expense is $380 million, down from the 2025–26 third-quarter forecast, and says this includes savings of $14 million through reductions in programs “such as provincial grazing reserves and hunting and angling conservation grants,” partially offset by other increases.
At the same time, Alberta’s current fiscal context underscores the need for careful, evidence-based decision-making. While the province is facing a significant deficit, the environment remains a foundational part of long-term economic stability, supporting tourism, ecosystem services, and the well-being of communities across the province. As Alberta considers changes to species-at-risk policy and wildlife management, decisions must be grounded in transparent, science-based information.
This is particularly important for species such as grizzly bears, which are currently listed as threatened in Alberta. In the absence of clearly communicated, up-to-date population data, any consideration of changes to their management raises important questions about how science is being applied in decision-making, particularly as elements of Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan remain in progress.
The key question is whether implementation will match intent. If Alberta is moving ahead with modernized species-at-risk legislation and policy, that process will need to be transparent, science-based, and supported by meaningful consultation that reflects a broad range of expertise and public interest. Budget documents confirm that species-at-risk management is an active policy priority. What comes next will matter just as much: who is consulted, what safeguards are proposed, and whether conservation outcomes are clearly measured and reported.
This is especially important given EWC’s previous public concerns about the direction of grizzly bear governance in Alberta and the need for wildlife policy to remain grounded in science, transparency, and public trust.
Healthy populations of large carnivores are essential to Alberta’s ecological integrity. As keystone species, grizzly bears, wolves and cougars maintain balance across entire ecosystems. Undermining their survival ultimately weakens the natural systems that Albertans depend on for clean water, climate resilience, and sustainable economies.
At a time of increasing environmental pressure, reducing conservation investment or delaying coordinated planning introduces serious long-term ecological and financial risk. Ensuring Alberta’s future prosperity will require sustained and measurable investment in ecosystem protection, species recovery, and responsible land management.
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy urges the Government of Alberta to include the following in future budgets:
Without immediate course correction, Alberta risks trading long-term ecological stability for short-term economic gain at the expense of the very wildlife that defines this province.
