Opinion: Post-secondary cuts a 'circuit-breaker' for Alberta's economy

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One of the more interesting terms to go mainstream over the past year is “circuit-breaker.” Previously understood to mean a particular kind of electrical switch that protects a circuit from being overloaded, circuit-breakers are now used in a public health setting to describe a set of temporary lockdown measures to disrupt the spread of a dangerous virus. Unfortunately, the introduction of Budget 2021 by the Alberta government on Feb. 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 government has made the unfortunate decision to introduce austerity measures 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-per-cent reduction) comes on top of an additional four per cent received last year, and by the government’s own estimates will result in the reduction of at least 750 jobs across the province.

Many 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” demonstrates a profound lack of empathy and understanding for the fiscal realities faced by working families today.

Although the largest post-secondary institutions in Alberta are 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 is akin to introducing a fiscal circuit-breaker to smaller communities when government should be encouraging local economic development.

Furthermore, it is important to recognize the strong correlation between higher learning and economic prosperity. 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 post-secondary education (from 45 per cent in 2021-22 to 36 per cent just two years later), the 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. 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 Advanced Education. This demonstrates 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.

All this will result in a poorer overall quality of education 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 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 Edmonton Journal, this trend is being mirrored by current and future students. Students are increasingly considering moving out of province to pursue their studies and launch 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 faced by 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 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 in Budget 2021 will be an economic circuit-breaker for Alberta’s economy in the short and long term, and represent a missed opportunity 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, Blair Howes is president of the SAIT Academic Faculty Association, Penny Marcotte is president of the Bow Valley College Faculty Association, and Garry Wilson is president of the NAIT Academic Staff Association.