Support for Education: Members' Statements at the Alberta Legislature

An excerpt from Alberta Hansard dated Tuesday, April 12 (see pages 596 and 597):


Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The past two and a halfyears have seen the worst global economic slowdown since the Great Depression. Many parts of the world are still in bad shape and many Albertans are still un- or underemployed, yet by and large what was a major upset to most of the world has been com-paratively a hiccup here in Alberta. Indeed, our jobless rate is two points below the national average, and there’s serious talk about another labour shortage brewing here. That’s mostly because oil is $106 a barrel, and we’ve got more proven reserves than just about anybody.

It is good to be king. Well, Mr. Speaker, the thing about being king is that if you take more than a minute or two to sit back and gloat, somebody is going to come along, capture all your posses-sions, and leave you there in the dust. It’s only good to be king as long as you can stay ahead of the conquering hordes.

Since our fossil fuels or the demand for them will not last for-ever, and since oil continues to keep us living a lifestyle that would take 10 planet Earths to support if everybody on this planet lived the way we do, and since there seems to be broad consensus that to sustain ourselves, we need to transition from a resource economy to a knowledge economy, and since this government makes much of its five-year commitment to sustainable health funding, my constituents are wondering: why is there no talk of a similar five-year commitment to education, both K to 12 and postsecondary, including a much sharper focus on trades training, and while we’re at it, early childhood as well?

Over time, but not over that long a horizon, nothing will reduce the strain on health budgets like a better educated population.
Over time nothing will produce innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology, energy development, and environmental protection and nothing will produce more art and culture, stronger communities, a more diversified and more resilient economy, and a broader tax base like a better educated population. Then, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn’t have to rely on the roller coaster of resource revenues, and we could stop balancing our books on the backs of Alberta’s children.

Thank you.