The federal budget was released on Tuesday (Feb. 27), with a big focus on closing wage gaps between genders, and providing more support for Indigenous families.

But how will this budget affect local municipalities like Lacombe?

Mayor Grant Creasey says it's still too early to tell the exact effect, but he says besides a reiteration to invest in infrastructure over the next 12 years, he was disappointed in the lack of new things for our province.

One exception is the tax revenue from marijuana legalization.

“They did reaffirm that 75% of it is supposed to go provinces and territories, we’ll have to wait and see how that turns out. I’m at least encouraged that they recognize that there is a significant cost and impact to municipalities that seem to be bearing the brunt of the implementation of the legislation that’s being proposed, so I guess that’s encouraging.”

He doesn't expect things will change much in Central Alberta, despite lobbying efforts by municipalities.

“I think it’s going to take a while for us to fully realize the impacts of it, but on the surface I really don’t think anybody in Lacombe is going to really notice a whole lot of difference. Which is unfortunate, because it’s not like the governments haven’t heard from municipalities through our work at the AUMA and the Federal Canadian Municipalities Association as well.”

He describes it as a status quo budget, and with next year's budget being in an election year, he thinks the numbers will look a lot different.

The 367-page budget document also offers new cash to tackle the opioid crisis, and to cope with a surge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the United States.