7. Global
Economy is
now
“Precarious”
(IMF)
Slowing levels of growth and significant
growth in debt ($250 trillion) suggest a
recession of substance is just round the
corner.
War for talent is lost – so companies are
looking to accelerate automation, make
much more use of gig workers and redesign
business processes to require less labour.
In the developed world, demographics are
shifting economies and creating new social
pressures.
8. The Economy
of Alberta
Slowing of economic growth in Alberta / Canada
High unemployment – 6.6% and high youth
unemployment at 13%
Slowing of wage rises in Alberta in comparison to
other Provinces (0.5% versus 2.2% in BC)
High levels of job vacancies not filled – skills gap
leading to 42,000 unfilled jobs.
There is a recession in the oil and gas sector
which shows no sign of ending.
Recent decisions will slow growth of emerging
economies – film/TV, gaming, AI and technology.
Net debt of the Government of Alberta to GDP
ratio is 10.4% - amongst the lowest in the world
for any government
10. Understanding Context: Government
A government which has chosen to introduce austerity, and which is choosing not to solve the
underlying fiscal problem for Alberta – a reliance on oil and gas revenue to fund operations and
the persistence of low taxation. Balancing the budget becomes more important than meeting the
needs of communities and people.
A government which distrusts evidence-based analysis and prefers to adopt its own
interpretations of ”facts” and “evidence” – e.g. tax reductions, carbon taxes, climate change,
health care, energy transition.
A government that distrusts and want to reduce the power of unions and the professions.
A government that has high control needs, and low needs for public engagement – as seen this
week in the way Facebook Live was manipulated.
11. Understanding Context: Budget 1
-$269 Million
Student numbers up 15,000
“Maintain or increase education funding while seeking greater
efficiency by reducing administrative overhead and pushing
resources to front line teachers.”
12. Understanding Context: Budget 2
+$123 million for 250 modular classrooms and
+$397 million for 25 new schools /
modernizations over 5 years (some via P3’s)
13. Understanding Context: Budget for Calgary
2019-20 (-$40 million annualized)
Cutting the overall funding allocated to 246 schools by $22 million or 2.5 per cent. This will
include eliminating some temporary employee contracts and redeploying some central and
Area-based staff to schools to help mitigate this impact.
Cutting overall administration through service unit reductions by 2-10 per cent.
Reducing planned capital spending by $5 million.
Increasing transportation fees mid-year for yellow school bus riders while maintaining overall
service levels for 2019-2020. This is necessary due to the elimination of $8 million in provincial
government funding.
In addition, leaders were asked to freeze spending unless it impacts safety, security or legal
compliance.
14. Understanding Context: Budget 3
No funding for growth – 15,000 students a year
No funding for wage settlements – seeking a 2%-5% rollback in teacher
pay
No funding for significant increases in insurance premiums
$400 million for charter / private schools– Legislation on School Choice
coming – consultation launched.
Funding review (as in BC and Ontario)
Proposed pension shift from ATRF to AIMCo seen as problematic by
teachers
15. Understanding Context: Budget 4
Growing student inequality and poverty – reductions in social spending
Less access to post-secondary education in Alberta and at a higher cost – fewer
programs
Budget based on assumptions about oil price gains and GDP growth which many see
as problematic – higher deficit/debt likely
$4.5 billion tax cut over 5 years to corporations
16. Understanding Context: Alberta’s Global
Education Standing (2015 Data)
Alberta 2nd in the world in Science (behind Singapore) and above all other Canadian
jurisdictions [the US score was 496]
Alberta ranked second in the world in Reading (behind Singapore) [the US score was
496]
Alberta scored 511 in Mathematics – placing us 11th in the world and significantly above
the OECD average of 490 (the same position as Finland) [ the US score was 470]
18. GOVERNANCE
SCHOOL BOARDS GONE NOW
OR SOON OR DRAMATICALLY
CHANGED
QUEBEC
NEW BRUNSWICK
NEWFOUNDLAND AND
LABRADOR
PEII
POWER OF BOARDS REDUCED
BC, SASKATCHEWAN
Look to the funding model
review.
32. There will be more to come…are you
ready? Are you able? Are you willing
to stand up and be counted?
33. 3 THINGS
To
Consider..
We put students and their learning
first
This is not just about money, its
about all of our futures
Your job is not to do the
governments bidding, but to stand
up for your students, teachers and
district.
34. Time To Activate A New Coalition of Parents,
Teachers, Students, Trustees
“Victory will never be
found by taking the path
of least resistance” Winston
Churchill
Notas del editor
Per capita funding: https://www.teachers.ab.ca/News%20Room/NewsReleases/Pages/Funding-Documents-Reveal-16-Per-Cent-Cut-for-K%E2%80%933-Students.aspx
Ontario elementary teachers are going ahead with work to rule (the others still not allowed to announce work action but its kind of expected), Saskatchewan has announced a bargaining impasse, the BC government recently lost a supreme court decision about its refusal to follow the negotiated contract, and the Alberta government is openly attacking the profession on a daily basis and cutting funding to near inoperable levels... And all 4 provinces site the same 3 major issues as items just simply not being addressed and respected: class size, class complexity, and salary (in that specific order)