The release of Alberta’s budget this week was marked by a slew of cuts, funding freezes and austerity measures. Less discussed was the UCP’s changes to education funding. It appears Kenney has joined his counterparts in their quest to defund public education.

The Alberta United Conservatives’ inaugural budget opted to freeze education funding at current levels. This means, in real terms, funding will decrease as inflation rises over time. Put more simply, Kenney is ushering in cuts to education through a secret back door. At the same time, the budget increases funding to private education alternatives, allocating a total of $400 million their way.

Conservatives undermining public education is not isolated to Alberta. Conservative governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have likewise underfunded public education. Unlike Kenney, they have not entirely frozen funding increases but have instead increased funding short of what is required to match inflation.

Ontario Premier, Doug Ford’s assault on public education has been perhaps the most notable. Ford has sought to slash education funding by increasing class sizes, firing teachers and canceling support programs. According to the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, more than 10,000 teachers are slated to lose their jobs under Ford’s watch. His cuts have been met with fierce opposition, instigating province-wide walkouts, large-scale protests and threats of strikes.

Private, for-profit educators have stepped in to fill the cracks created by Ford. Pricey private schools like Blyth Academy are even using Ford’s cuts to market their services to disgruntled parents.

During the 2019 federal election campaign, the Conservatives under Scheer’s leadership had a similar agenda in their policy prescriptions. Their proposal to give $4000 to families who sent their kids to private schools was met with heavy criticism. Ultimately the blowback forced Scheer to renege on this promise.

Across the board, Conservatives have been working to weaken public education. These moves have been to the detriment of average Canadian families and to the benefit of for-profit private institutions. Once again, Conservative declamations that they stand ‘for the people’ are contradicted by their own actions.

Add your name if you oppose the new far-right Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.

He says he wants to “take back Canada” echosing Trump’s rhetoric. We cannot let that happen