Calgary Sparks Education Funding War!
Calgary's petition ignites a battle over Alberta's education funding, challenging public support for private schools.
CALGARY — A petition spearheaded by the "Alberta Funds Public Schools" organization aims to reshape the landscape of education funding in Alberta. Launched on October 3, 2025, the initiative seeks to gather 177,732 signatures by February 11, 2026, to prompt a referendum on whether the provincial government should cease public funding for accredited independent (private) schools.
The Deeper Context
The petition, driven by Calgary high school teacher and Alberta Teachers' Association representative Alicia Taylor, is a response to ongoing debates about educational funding in Alberta. The Alberta Teachers' Association has highlighted that the province offers the lowest per-student public funding in Canada. Despite a 4.4% increase in the 2024 budget to $9.3 billion for K-12 education, critics argue this growth lags behind enrolment and inflation. The province allocates approximately $461 million to private schools, representing about 70% of per-student funding. This move is set against a backdrop of historical funding cuts, including the 2019 abolition of certain grants. A recent ThinkHQ poll indicates that 59% of Albertans support ending taxpayer funding for private schools, reflecting substantial public interest in the issue.
The Critics & Costs
Alberta's Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, has expressed concerns about the potential repercussions of this initiative, warning that removing funding could displace around 50,000 students with specialized needs. The government's modeling efforts are underway to understand the full impact. The petition, although gaining momentum with 40,728 signatures and 1,896 canvassers, still faces a significant challenge to meet its goal. The cost of reallocating funds could impact various stakeholders, particularly families relying on private education for specific educational needs.
As the February deadline approaches, all eyes will be on whether the petition can secure enough support to force a legislative discussion. If successful, the Alberta Legislative Assembly will consider the proposal for a referendum, setting the stage for a potential shift in the province's educational policy landscape.
