LETHBRIDGE, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging the government of Alberta to refuse to spend an additional $2 billion to meet the teachers’ union demands during the strike.

“Hardworking Albertans will be shocked to hear that teachers refused a contract pay raise that would have made teachers the highest paid in Western Canada and now they want $2 billion more,” said Kris Sims, CTF Alberta Director. “Alberta is deeply in debt and taxpayers can’t afford this.”

The Alberta government reports the Alberta Teachers Association is demanding another $2 billion, in addition to the $2.6 billion the government has allocated for the teachers’ contract over four years.

The province is on track to have a debt of $84.3 billion this year.

If the Alberta government agreed to the ATA’s demands and borrowed an additional $2 billion to pay for them, it would cost about $80 million extra in interest payments.

The amount of money wasted on interest could otherwise cover the salaries of 1,000 teachers.

The Government of Alberta has increased funding for education by 33 per cent since 2021-22.

“This demand for $2 billion is out of touch and it’s not fair to hardworking Albertans,” said Sims. “Smith needs to dig her heels in and keep refunding parents on their lost tax dollars for school while this big government union comes to its senses.”

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