Educational Funding Freeze and Government Restrictions on ATA in 2020

Legislative limitations and funding freezes combined to change the public education landscape in 2020, resulting in one of the most difficult eras for Alberta's educational system.

Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act, was introduced by the provincial government and placed new restrictions on unions that represent teachers and other public sector employees. These regulations limited political spending, prohibited some forms of picketing without permission, and mandated mediation and cooling-off periods prior to strikes or lockouts. These actions resulted in a major loss of bargaining power for the Alberta Teachers' Association, as well as a diminished capacity to support resources and teachers' rights that have a direct impact on student education and learning.

At the same time, despite consistent increases in student enrolment and inflation, the 2020 education budget left K–12 funding at roughly $8.2 billion. This led to the elimination of more than 2,000 teaching and support positions throughout the province and, in effect, less funding per student. Classrooms were immediately affected, with larger class sizes, especially in the mid to large cities, becoming the norm and special education programs, extracurricular activities, counselling, and the arts being reduced or discontinued!

While rural schools, which rely on enrolment-based funding models, experienced even more severe cuts, many Edmonton and Calgary school boards had to use their financial reserves just to keep up with basic operations.

Without pay increases, teachers were forced to work longer hours with fewer resources, which increased turnover and burnout. Thousands of Alberta students' educational experiences suffered as a result of these decisions, which had a significant educational impact in addition to administrative and financial ones. Individual attention decreased, classrooms became overcrowded, and crucial resources that once benefited both gifted and struggling students started to deteriorate. By end of 2020, Alberta was spending about $1 billion less per student than the national average, a disparity that many educators cautioned would have long-term effects on the province's future students.

https://globalnews.ca/news/6608148/alberta-budget-2020-calgary-impacts/

https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/what\_you\_need\_to\_know\_about\_alberta\_budget\_2020

https://www.supportourstudents.ca/press-room/previous/3

https://www.mltaikins.com/insights/union-dues-are-getting-less-political-in-alberta/

https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2020/08/a-return-to-balance-or-empowering-the-powerful-albertas-bill-32/?print=print

https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/bill\_32