Premier open to FCSS funding review

Premier Danielle Smith is open to taking a look at boosting and easing eligibility requirements around Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) funding.

Red Deer Advocate photo

By Paul Cowley, Red Deer Advocate July 15, 2026

The premier was in town on July 15 to participate in the Westerner Days Parade and later attended a Red Deer District-organized event where she gave a speech and participated in a lengthy question-and-answer session from local business people.

In a meeting with media following the event, the premier was asked about FCSS in light of a Red Deer city council-supported resolution calling for more long-term, sustainable funding and more flexibility in the programs receiving financial support. The province covers 80 per cent of FCSS funding and the communities served by programs 20 per cent.

“I think it’s worth it to have those conversations,” said Smith.

Smith said she will ask newly sworn in Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir to monitor the issue and see how much support there is for Red Deer’s proposals.

“I’ll ask her to watch what the debate is like and to see what level of interest there is,” said the premier.

Any increases in FCSS funding will mean municipalities will also have to pay more. “If it does go up we want to make sure that does have support. So, we’ll look at that.”

Smith acknowledged the program has remained largely unchanged for many years.

“We’re very supportive of the program so it’s probably worth it to have another look at it to see if we can increase the amounts that go though to cost-share and also increase the number of options it can be put towards.

“I’ll ask Tanya Fir to take a look at that.”

On July 14, city council unanimously endorsed a resolution to take to Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) fall conference to gather support for an advocacy effort.

The resolution calls on the province to provide long-term, sustainable funding for prevention programs and strengthen collaboration across Alberta’s social service system to help communities address challenges before they become crises.

Coun. Cassandra Curtis, who is on the FCSS board and is a member of its finance committee, said FCSS funding is based exclusively on prevention programs. However, there is a growing need in many communities for financial help in supporting intervention programs as well.

From 2015 to 2022, funding was frozen for FCSS. In 2023, the government approved a $5 million increase, boosting the program to $105 million. But many communities and the FCSS Association of Alberta have said that falls far short of needs in a growing province.

A 2024 ABmunis FCSS resolution calling for more funding estimated that if the program would be at $161.5 million if kept up with population growth and inflation rates.

Source Red Deer Advocate