Alberta’s 31st legislature reconvened on April 8 following a constituency week. Here is a summary of the education- and public sector-related business that took place from April 8 to 11.
Rural school construction and modernization
April 8—Amanda Chapman (NDP—Calgary-Beddington) noted that Breton High School, the top priority of Wild Rose School Division, had received design funding in the 2023/24 provincial budget but does not appear on the 2024/25 construction funding list. She asked Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides when the high school would receive construction funding so that it could be modernized and rightsized. Nicolaides replied that government has 98 school projects under way and is eager to move all of them forward as quickly as possible.
Chapman asked Nicolaides what it would take for him to prioritize a 70-year-old school facility. Nicolaides replied that modernizing and replacing schools in communities across the province is a top priority for government. Chapman asked Nicolaides why the government will not fund construction for Breton High School, allowing the school division to demolish Breton Elementary School. Nicolaides replied that government is committed to modernizing and replacing schools in smaller communities.
April 11—Glenn van Dijken (UCP—Athabasca–Barrhead–Westlock) asked Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides to elaborate on the government’s strategies for providing school facilities throughout Alberta, particularly in rural areas, and how budgetary allocations are being prioritized to meet communities’ needs. Nicolaides replied that building and modernizing schools is one of government’s top priorities. “We have a number of replacement and new school projects under way in every corner of the province,” he said.
van Dijken asked Minister of Infrastructure Peter Guthrie to outline the different stages of school construction and the corresponding timelines for completion. Guthrie identified preplanning, planning, design and tender, and construction as the four stages. He added that it takes three to four years to build a school. van Dijken asked Guthrie to update his constituents on the status of the Mallaig School replacement project, the Barrhead Composite High School modernization and the Holy Family Catholic School (Waskatenau) project. Guthrie replied that all three projects are at the design stage.
School construction in Calgary-North East
April 9—Gurinder Brar (NDP—Calgary-North East) asked Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides why the government is ignoring Calgary-North East when it comes to school construction. Nicolaides replied by expressing hope that Brar would join him April 12 for the official opening of Prairie Sky School in Calgary-North East. Citing long bus rides, Brar asked Nicolaides why the government insists on letting down northeast Calgarians year after year. Nicolaides replied that government is planning a new high school in Cornerstone, two new elementary schools in Redstone and a junior high school in Saddle Ridge. Brar asked Nicolaides what he would say to students who face long bus rides and overcrowded classrooms because the government is not willing to build the schools northeast Calgary needs. Nicolaides replied that schools are on their way.
Education funding
April 10—NDP Leader Rachel Notley asked Premier Danielle Smith how she can sleep at night, knowing that Alberta has the lowest per-capita education funding in Canada. Smith replied that the education operating budget has risen from $8.3 billion during the NDP’s tenure in 2018/19 to $9.3 billion in 2024/25. She added that 98 schools are in various stages of construction.
Notley noted that Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School Division had cancelled its LEAD program, which serves students with learning disabilities. She asked Smith why those students are not worthy of the investment they would receive in the rest of the country. Smith replied that government believes in local control and local decision making. She added that government is providing $1.2 billion to hire additional teachers and support staff and $1.5 billion to support students’ specialized learning needs.
Notley asked Smith what kind of government cuts program unit funding by over one-third, cuts regional service delivery and freezes funding for English language learners. Replied Smith, “The NDP program was to chase people out of the province: 13 consecutive quarters of people leaving. We had to bring in a funding formula . . . that prevented school boards from losing funding because of declining enrolment. ... Now that we have, fortunately, more people wanting to move to Alberta, we’ve got more tax dollars coming in. We’ve got more people coming in. We’ve got more families coming in, which is why we have to make sure that we have the highest per-capita funding that we have.”
April 10—Premier Danielle Smith introduced Bill 18, Provincial Priorities Act. The bill requires school boards and other provincially funded and regulated entities to obtain provincial government approval to receive federal funding.
Provincial pension plan proposal
April 10—Shannon Phillips (NDP—Lethbridge-West) asked President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Nate Horner whether the government would abandon its plans to establish an Alberta pension plan. Horner replied that government is awaiting a legislative interpretation from the three actuarial firms that the Office of the Chief Actuary is using and expects to receive an asset transfer figure in the fall. Phillips asked Horner whether he would agree with the vast majority of Albertans “and just take this silly APP idea out of the window today.”
Replied Horner, “I’d say that it’s kind of cute to hear the opposition talk about finances and spending priorities after the budgets that they brought forward but also the budgets that NDP governments continue to bring forward across the country.” Phillips asked Horner for confirmation that government would stop gambling with Albertans’ retirement. Horner replied that an Alberta pension plan would leave $5 billion annually in Albertans’ pockets.
Access to menstrual products
April 11—Noting that 62 per cent of students have left or missed school because period products were not available to them, Julia Hayter (NDP—Calgary-Edgemont) asked Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir whether government would provide access to menstrual products to all provincial buildings and schools. Fir replied that she is open to the conversation. ❚
