- Paying-off the teachers' portion of the unfunded liability to cost $600 per Albertan

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called today's shocking announcement by the Alberta government that taxpayers would be assuming the teachers' portion of the unfunded pension liability, a "betrayal," and "a politically-motivated move to avoid a teachers' strike during the upcoming provincial election."

"Premier Stelmach has offered teachers $2.1-billion of taxpayers' money in exchange for them not going on strike during the upcoming provincial election," charged CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "Clearly, the Stelmach government must feel a province-wide teachers' strike during the next election would hurt his changes of re-election."

"Five-years of labour peace from teachers is not worth anywhere near $2.1-billion," continued Hennig. "Teachers are getting their debt paid-off 52 years early and all taxpayers get is a lousy five years of no-strikes."

The $2.1-billion in new debt will cost the equivalent of $600 per Albertan, or $2,400 for an Alberta family of four.

"Historically, major teacher strikes are few and far between in Alberta, averaging one every ten-years or so. Clearly the biggest beneficiaries of labour peace are politicians," continued Hennig. "Plus, if the government is concerned about teacher strikes interfering with the education of Alberta students, they can do what 37 of the 50 US states have done and ban them."

The CTF further notes the Alberta government continues to sit on the final report from the government appointed Task Force on the Teachers' Unfunded Pension Liability, which was submitted to Hon. Ron Liepert on October 31st.

In the CTF's submission to the Task Force on the Teachers' Unfunded Pension Liability, they recommended the Alberta government investigate the benefits of pension reform for new teachers by moving from a "defined-benefit" pension plan to a "defined-contribution" pension plan.

The CTF also recommended the Alberta government require a full public vote prior to signing any new agreement.

"This agreement is going to cost Albertans $600 a piece, and if the ATA is going to ask each of their members to vote on it, so should the Alberta government," concluded Hennig.

Copies of the CTF's submission to the Task Force on the Teachers' Unfunded Pension Liability "Chalking up a new debt for taxpayers " can be found on-line at: Chalking up a new debt for taxpayers or by contacting the Alberta office at 1-800-661-0187.