Premier Notley tops up education budget by $103 M

Notley and her cabinet are meeting in Calgary and have added $103 M to the education budget.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is meeting with her cabinet in Calgary and announced that her government will add millions to education funding and also keep the young offender centre open.

The premier spoke to reporters from McDougall Centre on Thursday and said that she is adding $103 M to the education budget.

“I am pleased to announce that our government is making a significant investment in education setting aside the cutbacks proposed by our predecessors. The government will allocate an additional $103 M to the education budget sufficient to ensure that our school boards can meet their obligations and ensure that every student in Alberta is getting the help and attention and the education that they need,” said Notley.

The government says about 12,000 additional students are expected in Alberta schools this fall and so they will provide enrolment growth funding for the 2015-16 school year to ensure that every student in an Alberta classroom is funded.

“By funding enrolment growth and restoring funding for transportation, inclusive education, First Nations, Metis and Inuit among other areas, we are helping to ensure that school authorities can make decisions that are in the best interest of the students in their communities,” said David Eggen, Minister of Education.

Notley says the announcement was timely because school boards need to submit their budgets to the province by the end of June.

The province will cover the two percent salary increase and one percent lump sum payment that was previously negotiated with Alberta teachers.

The Alberta Teachers' Association says the announcement is a welcome first step to better resourcing schools in Alberta.

“I’m encouraged by the fact that Premier Rachel Notley and Education Minister David Eggen have taken decisive action to ensure that school boards will have funding to support enrolment growth in Alberta’s schools,” said Alberta Teachers’ Association President Mark Ramsankar in a statement.

Notley also announced that she has cancelled the closure of the Calgary Young Offender Centre.

“Our government decided today to cancel the closure of the Calgary Young Offender Centre. As we said during the election campaign, we fundamentally disagree with the idea that young offenders from Calgary and southern Alberta should be housed in a facility in Edmonton far away from their families,” she said.

Notley says it was wrong to close the facility and the goal is to help young offenders and that separating them from their families’ works against that goal.

Notley says the cost to keep the Calgary Young Offender Centre open is about $3 M per year.

She says her cabinet will discuss spending while in Calgary but will not be ready to table a budget until the fall.