Health care and education are to receive some of the largest increases in a restrained Alberta budget.

Finance Minister Nate Horner says the 4.4 per cent increase in the Health department’s budget is to be focused on improving access to doctors and reducing wait times in emergency departments, operating rooms and labs.

But a longplanned hospital for south Edmonton is halted, and there’s no date to begin construction on a standalone children’s hospital in the provincial capital.

Education will receive a similar increase, most of which is to be devoted to hiring new teachers and educational assistants.

Horner says a tax cut for lowerincome Albertans that the United Conservatives promised during last year’s provincial election will be put off for two years.

Overall, the budget predicts a 3.9 per cent increase in operating expenses.

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