All-day kindergarten promise shelved again: Gordon Dirks

Alison Redford may be gone, but the former premier's unfulfilled election promise that Alberta would have all-day kindergarten is leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many parents.

Education Minister Gordon Dirks is refusing to commit to introducing all-day, five-day-a-week kindergarten in 2015.

• Alberta budget woes squeeze all-day kindergarten project

In a statement, Dirks said plunging oil prices and other financial constraints mean the government has little wiggle room on the provincial government budget, and that means the government would likely have to stop funding other programs to support the kindergarten initiative.

"It's a little disappointing because I was looking forward to going back to work when my daughter went to school," one mother told CBC News.

"It's important. Hopefully, it can go ahead," added another.

The issue predates Redford's promise. More than a decade ago Alberta's commission on learning called on the provincial government to "establish full-day kindergarten."

Calgary Liberal MLA Kent Hehr is frustrated it still hasn't happened.

"The provincial government essentially played the role of Lucy, pulling the football out from Charlie Brown and saying to the electorate someday you will get full day kindergarten.

"Well, that day is a long way off."

Whether oil prices are high or low, the government can't seem to ever find the cash for the program, Hehr said.