Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says as classrooms are overwhelmed with new grade school students, her government will accelerate new school construction with $8.6 billion over the next three years.
In a televised address on Tuesday night, Smith said the province’s current budget is not enough to keep up with the rapid growth of the population in kindergarten to Grade 12 schools.
“This is literally the fastest and largest building our state can manage given the capacity of the construction workforce available and the time it takes to permit, prepare and service available school sites,” he said. Smith.
The state’s population increased by more than 200,000 people in the last financial year.
The chief officer often said that the only thing holding back the cash is that school boards are preparing projects for construction.
“If you can get the sites ready, the province will get the dollars set aside to get shovels in the ground,” Smith said.
The government is changing the process of approving construction funding so that school boards do not need to wait every year for the next budget cycle to get the go-ahead.
School projects that were previously approved and are now in the planning and design stages could move on to the next stage as soon as they are ready.
Smith’s announcement comes as the province’s two largest departments, Edmonton Public Schools and the Calgary Board of Education, say their schools are expected to have a utilization rate of well over 90 per cent this school year, with some schools hitting capacity.
Adding about $6.5 billion in capital funding would be a significant boost to what was budgeted in February.
Budget 2024 originally earmarked $1.9 billion in capital funding over the next three years for the planning, design or construction of new and modern school projects across the province.
In the summer, the government pledged an additional $215 million for school boards, including $90 million toward 100 more modular classrooms expected to be delivered by the end of the calendar year.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides told The Canadian Press that the annual budget numbers will vary under the new plan because different projects will be able to move forward at different times, but it will mean that schools are built as soon as possible.
“That (new) process will help make sure that it doesn’t take five, six years for schools to be built,” he said.
Smith said she expects the construction could lead to about 50,000 new student spaces over the next three years, and 12,500 new charter school student spaces over the next four years.
Smith also used her televised address to take a swipe at Ottawa, accusing Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of “unrestricted” border policies.
Smith said historically high levels of immigration – especially for those on temporary visas – are exacerbating housing shortages and challenging the infrastructure of education, health and other social services.
“Alberta has always welcomed newcomers who have our shared values – and we will continue to do so,” said Smith, explaining her definition of shared values.
“Welcoming those who believe in working hard, defending our freedom, contributing to society, following the rule of law, and who have a deep respect for other cultures and religions that are different from their own, has been a strength in our provincial culture and history for a long time. .”
Smith called for “more sensible and limited” policies but did not elaborate.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 17, 2024.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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