Rachel Notley announces $103M boost to education budget

Alberta Premier RachelNotleysays her new NDP government will make a $103-million infusion into the province's education budget, reversing cost-cutting measures by the Tories.

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Notley made the announcement on Thursday as she addressed the media on day two of her first cabinet meeting in Calgary.

"This was one of our most important election commitments," she said.

Details of the plan

The government pledge includes:

• Enrolment growth funding for the 2015-16 school year to cover the additional12,000 students expected in schools this year.
• Restoring previously cut funding for transportation, inclusive education,programs for First Nations, Inuit and Mtis, and other support services.
• Maintainingfunding to cover the two per cent salary increase and one per cent lump sum payment previously negotiated with teachers.

Young offenders

Flanked by Education Minister David Eggen and Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, Notley also announced that the slated closure of the Calgary Young Offender Centre will not go ahead.

"In our view it was simply wrong to close this facility and so we won't do it," she said.

"The decision to keep the centre open means youth can continue to access the support they need closer to home,"said Ganley.

"Youth can remain close to their families and their support network, and better prepare to be a positive influence in their community."

The previous Progressive Conservative government announced earlier this year the centre would be closed and offenders from Calgary would be moved to Edmonton.

Briefings continue

NotleysaysAlbertanscan expect more policy announcements from her new government on such things as a royalty review and health-care spending in the next few days, as sheandher 11 cabinet ministers continueto be briefed by department officials on many issues.

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As he arrived at the McDougall Centre Thursdaymorning, Education Minister David Eggen said he would begiving his cabinet colleagues a presentation on severaloptions to fullyfund enrolment growth.

"Well time is of the essence,right,because the school year is different from our budget year with the province," he said.

"So there's a lot of learning that's at stake, alot of insecurity that needs to be resolved and many hundreds of jobs that need to find resolution to."