Alberta government backbencher booted from caucus over threat to vote against budget

EDMONTON — Alberta’s governing United Conservatives have booted a rural backbencher from caucus following his public opposition to the government’s proposed budget.

Chief government whip Shane Getson said Friday that UCP members of the legislature voted to remove Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair because he intends to vote against the spending document.

“As an elected MLA, he has that right, but may not do so as a member of the government caucus,” wrote Getson.

Under parliamentary convention, the budget vote is a confidence vote, meaning that if it fails in the legislature, it’s expected the government will trigger an election.

Now, the UCP holds an 11-seat majority in the 87-seat house, so many more UCP members would have to vote against the budget to put Premier Danielle Smith’s government at risk.

Sinclair has criticized the budget’s projected multibillion-dollar deficits and its allocation of money for big cities while rural constituencies like his need roads fixed and better health care.

In a social media post last weekend, he said he was “furious” at the amount of money pledged for Alberta’s two major cities, including more than $100 million to fund a new event space near the Edmonton Oilers’ downtown arena and to demolish the team’s old arena.

The proposed budget, tabled last week by Finance Minister Nate Horner, forecasts a $5.2-billion deficit this year and multibillion-dollar deficits for at least two years after that.

The Canadian Press was unable to reach Sinclair for comment Friday, but in a social media post, Sinclair said he wouldn’t back down on his concerns.

“I’m still the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake and I’m going to keep on fighting to make sure our voices are heard,” he wrote Friday afternoon.

Last weekend, he wrote that he finds years of potential deficits tough to stomach.

“If the government insists on running multiple deficits (which I strongly oppose), then I would expect to see real investments in one-time infrastructure projects for northern Alberta — fixing our roads, bridges, building new schools and upgrading regional airports,” he wrote.

“Health care in northern Alberta has hit rock bottom, and while I hear about positive changes happening elsewhere, they aren’t happening here.”

Francesca Ward, the mayor of Slave Lake in Sinclair’s riding, has supported Sinclair, saying earlier she and town council share his concerns about the budget and apparent neglect of northern highways and local health care.

The government’s budget pledges some capital health spending over the next three years in the north, such as $189 million to replace the Beaverlodge Health Centre and $80 million for the community health centre in La Crete. Both facilities are 350 kilometres away from Slave Lake.

Upgrades to Highway 88, which was also a bone of contention for Sinclair, are being promised eventually.

Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said Tuesday the budget includes funding to widen Highway 88, although he didn’t provide a dollar figure. He said design work is on track to be completed this year, with construction getting underway in 2026.

Smith told delegates at an Alberta Municipalities conference Friday morning that while there might be a perception that rural communities are getting the short end of the stick, the province’s two major cities aren’t being given their per capita share of capital funding.

She said about 36 per cent of total capital spending this year is going to Calgary and Edmonton, despite those two cities making up more than half of the province’s total population.

Christina Gray, who leads the official Opposition NDP in the house, said Sinclair’s removal suggests Smith can’t lead effectively.

“The UCP’s 2025 budget fails Albertans. Rather than fix it, the premier continues to approach the problem like she approaches all problems — firing anyone who disagrees with her,” said Gray.

Alberta’s legislature returns from a break Monday, but Sinclair’s removal takes immediate effect.

Sinclair was the second UCP MLA to push back against Smith’s government in the span of a week.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie quit cabinet over his concerns with government-wide contracting processes.

His concerns come amid an ongoing scandal involving allegations of high-level political pressure in overpriced private surgery contracts. The RCMP has announced it is investigating Alberta Health Services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2025.

— With files from Jack Farrell

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press