Showing posts with label Alberta Legislature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alberta Legislature. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
2011-2012 Education Estimates Discussion at the Legislature
The Alberta Hansard record is out for yesterday's discussion of the 2011-2012 Education Estimates. If you have more time, you can watch the session at Assembly Online.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Education Budget to be Debated at Alberta Legislature
The Education Budget will be debated in the Legislature Tuesday, April 19 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. You can listen/watch to live/archived video or audio of this debate at Assembly Online. ACCESS TV also broadcasts the proceedings of the Alberta Legislature live beginning at 1:30 pm. These sessions are rebroadcast on Shaw at 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Education Budget Will Come Before the House April 19
During Question Period at the Alberta Legislature last week, Harry Chase, MLA for Calgary Varsity, questioned whether education was actually protected in the budget this year as the government claims. He has heard from parents, teachers and school boards who have been working through the numbers and the situation is looking bleak for many – staff layoffs and larger classes. It is clear during this exchange that the Minister of Education, Hon. Dave Hancock, has struggled with some tough decisions particularly around AISI.
At the last CAPSC meeting, we talked about a window of opportunity of several weeks where the public could influence the Education budget. We can now give you a date. During this exchange, the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Ken Kowalski interceded and made the following statement, “I would like to remind all members again that this is question period. Budgetary questions and particularly Education’s budget will come before the House on the afternoon of April 19. There will be three hours that could be devoted to this subject.”
At the last CAPSC meeting, we talked about a window of opportunity of several weeks where the public could influence the Education budget. We can now give you a date. During this exchange, the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Ken Kowalski interceded and made the following statement, “I would like to remind all members again that this is question period. Budgetary questions and particularly Education’s budget will come before the House on the afternoon of April 19. There will be three hours that could be devoted to this subject.”
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