Post-Secondary Cuts article in Edmonton Journal co-authored by SAFA President
Good afternoon Faculty,
The Edmonton Journal published an Op/Ed piece today from me, Blair Howes (president of the SAIT Academic Faculty Association), Alexandru Caldararu (president of the NorQuest College Faculty Association), Penny Marcotte (president of the Bow Valley College Faculty Association), and Garry Wilson (president of the NAIT Academic Staff Association) entitled Post-Secondary Cuts are a ‘Circuit-Breaker’ for Alberta’s Economy:
This article will be published in the Calgary Herald tomorrow.
One of the more interesting terms to “go mainstream” over the past year is the “circuit-breaker.” Previously understood to mean a particular kind of electrical switch that protects a circuit from being overloaded, the term took on an entirely new meaning in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Circuit-breakers are now used in a public health setting to describe a set of temporary lockdown measures to disrupt/slow the spread of a dangerous virus. Unfortunately, the introduction of Budget 2021 by the Alberta Government on February 25 represents a circuit-breaker of an entirely new variety; one to the economic recovery (and future prosperity) of the province.
In Budget 2021, the provincial government has made the unfortunate decision to introduce austerity measures at a time when the need for a strong public post-secondary education system has never been greater. The government’s cut of $142 million to Advanced Education (a 6.2% reduction) comes on top of an additional 4% received last year, and by the government’s own estimates will result in the reduction of at least 750 jobs across the province.
Many of the people facing these layoffs have assumed the role of primary breadwinner in households that have previously borne the brunt of layoffs in Alberta’s energy sector. To hear now that their jobs must also be cut so that public sector workers “pay their fair share” in Alberta (as both Premier Kenney and Finance Minister Travis Toews have publicly stated) demonstrates a profound lack of empathy and understanding for the fiscal realities faced by working families today.
As well, although the largest post-secondary institutions in Alberta are located in Edmonton and Calgary, the vast majority of colleges are located in smaller, more rural locales. These institutions are deeply connected to their communities, and the people who work and study at them generate substantial economic activity in their respective communities. The continuation of draconian cuts to post-secondary spending in Alberta is akin to introducing a fiscal circuit-breaker to smaller communities at a time when government should be encouraging local economic development.
Furthermore, it is important to recognize the strong correlation between higher learning and economic prosperity in Alberta. The provincial government recognizes this as much, as the 2021-24 Business Plan for Advanced Education clearly states that Albertans must “have the education and skills required to secure rewarding careers in the current and future labour market, and to drive Alberta’s recovery and prosperity.”
Unfortunately, Budget 2021 represents a profound disconnect between what the government is saying, and what they are actually doing. By reducing the share of public funding for the post-secondary education (from 45% in 2021-22 to 36% just two years later), the provincial government is forcing universities, colleges and polytechnic institutions into untenable positions. Over the past year and a half, we have seen numerous program closures and thousands of jobs eliminated across the province. This has an impact on the quality of programming that remains, as larger class sizes and fewer staff will limit educators to be innovative in the design and delivery of their curriculum.
Curiously, decisions at many institutions seem to have been guided by directives contained within secretive mandate letters issued by the Ministry of Advanced Education. This demonstrates the provincial government’s unwillingness to respect the autonomy of individual post-secondary institutions, engage meaningfully and transparently with the sector’s many stakeholders, and is contrary to the government’s own promise to reduce “red tape” (a key feature of the UCP’s successful electoral platform in 2019).
All of this will result in a poorer overall quality of education, and one that is more expensive to deliver. Indeed, we have already seen a sharp rise in tuition rates across Alberta over the past year, and Budget 2021 contains little (if any) solace for students who will be struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of attaining post-secondary education. The outcomes of these deliberate (and short-sighted) decisions are as serious as they are predictable. Already we have seen the emergence of a “brain drain” of highly skilled and experienced Faculty leaving Alberta (along with their professional expertise, industry connections, and research dollars). As reported in The Calgary Herald and The Edmonton Journal, this trend is being mirrored by current and future students. Students are increasingly considering moving out of the province to pursue their studies and launch their post-graduate careers, and if this trend is allowed to continue, Alberta’s future prosperity will be hampered by a dearth of qualified and experienced individuals ready to step into positions of leadership in business, government and civil society.
Faculty in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions understand the difficult financial times currently being faced by the people who live and work here. We understand that the status quo of the past will no longer serve the needs and interests of those who have chosen to make Alberta our home. However, it is of critical importance that post-secondary education continues to be seen as a vital cog in the economic recovery and future prosperity of this province.
Colleges, universities, and polytechnic institutions are integral to the social and economic fabric of communities large and small. The cuts to post-secondary education detailed in Budget 2021 will be an economic circuit-breaker for Alberta’s economy in the short and long term, and represents a missed opportunity for the provincial government to maintain the “Alberta Advantage” in the provision of high-quality and accessible post-secondary education.
Alexandru Caldararu is President of the NorQuest College Faculty Association (NCFA) in Edmonton, Blair Howes is President of the SAIT Academic Faculty Association (SAFA) in Calgary, Penny Marcotte is President of the Bow Valley College Faculty Association (BVCFA) in Calgary, and Garry Wilson is President of the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA) in Edmonton.
You can read the article and leave comments on the Edmonton Journal website.