Rachel Notley announces $103 million boost to education budget
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says her new NDP government will make a $103-million infusion into the province's education budget, reversing cost-cutting measures by the Tories.
Notley made the announcement on Thursday as she addressed the media on day two of her first cabinet meeting in Calgary.
"This was one of our most important election commitments," she said.
Details of the plan
The government pledge includes:
- Enrolment growth funding for the 2015-16 school year to cover the additional 12,000 students expected in schools this year.
- Restoring previously cut funding for transportation, inclusive education, programs for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and other support services.
- Maintaining funding to cover the two per cent salary increase and one per cent lump sum payment previously negotiated with teachers.
Young offenders
Flanked by Education Minister David Eggen and Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, Notley also announced that the slated closure of the Calgary Young Offender Centre will not go ahead.
"In our view it was simply wrong to close this facility and so we won't do it," she said.
"The decision to keep the centre open means youth can continue to access the support they need closer to home," said Ganley.
"Youth can remain close to their families and their support network, and better prepare to be a positive influence in their community."
The previous Progressive Conservative government announced earlier this year the centre would be closed and offenders from Calgary would be moved to Edmonton.
Briefings continue
Notley says Albertans can expect more policy announcements from her new government on such things as a royalty review and health-care spending in the next few days, as she and her 11 cabinet ministers continue to be briefed by department officials on many issues.
As he arrived at the McDougall Centre Thursday morning, Education Minister David Eggen said he would be giving his cabinet colleagues a presentation on several options to fully fund enrolment growth.
"Well time is of the essence, right, because the school year is different from our budget year with the province," he said.
"So there's a lot of learning that's at stake, a lot of insecurity that needs to be resolved and many hundreds of jobs that need to find resolution to."
