Post-secondary education: sacrificed in Alberta’s 2021 budget? – RCI

With an anticipated deficit of $ 18.2 billion and a growth rate that remains below the 5% mark, Alberta sees 2021-2022 under the sign of austerity. Credit: Istock

The Alberta government has released its budget for 2021-2022. Several employees in the education sector will lose their jobs.

It is a budget that emphasizes austerity, especially in the public service where additional recruitments have only been reserved for the health sector.

Provincial finance minister Travis Toews said savings will be made by lowering some salaries and reducing compensation for doctors and civil servants.

Austerity will also affect the education sector, particularly at the post-secondary level where nearly 750 full-time positions will be cut.

Universities will see their budgets cut by 174 million dollars. This desired 3-year reduction will pave the way for a new funding model. But, the contours of such a model have yet to be defined.

Schools will not receive additional funding, even if the number of students increases.

This budget concentrates the bulk of health efforts, as the province is going through one of the worst times in its history, with the drop in oil prices in recent years.

The price of a barrel is barely starting to recover, but the level of debt in this province will exceed $ 132 billion in 2023-2024, with an anticipated deficit of $ 18.2 billion.

This situation creates some uncertainty over the timetable for the return to a balanced budget. Yet it was a flagship campaign promise of the current Conservative government.

The next few days will thus be difficult for those workers who will find themselves without a job, while the unemployment rate is close to the bar. 10 % currently.

With information from Michael Bédard, Radio-Canada Alberta

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