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EDMONTON — Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer has approved a citizen initiative petition calling for an end to public funding of private schools, a move that could shake up the province’s education system and intensify existing tensions over funding.
Under the proposal, the question to voters would read: “Should the Government of Alberta end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools?” The initiative is being advanced by proponent Alicia Taylor.
Several Alberta education groups and labour organizations have already registered strong opinions. The Alberta Federation of Labour recently urged Albertans to push back against what it calls the UCP government’s “privatization onslaught,” warning that billions in public dollars are flowing into private school capital and operating costs instead of supporting public schools. Alberta Federation of Labour
Teachers and public-school advocates have likewise flagged equity concerns, arguing that Alberta already provides among the highest subsidies to private schools in Canada, at about 70 per cent of the operational funding per student that a public school receives. They say doing away with those subsidies could free up resources for the public system but also caution that the public system is already stretched and would require increased capacity, staffing and infrastructure to absorb any influx of students.
The initiative’s timing intersects with the current teachers’ strike, which centres on pay, class size and resources. Some critics believe the initiative could become a flashpoint in the broader debate over public education funding.
In a recent controversy at a UCP town hall event, moderator Bruce McAllister cut off a high school student’s question about why taxpayer dollars fund private schools. He rebuked the student, saying, “Your parents should turn you over their knee.” The comment was widely condemned and reignited discussion about transparency and public voice in education funding debates.
Moving forward, Taylor must appoint a chief financial officer by Oct. 14. Once that is done and the mandatory seven-day publication period expires, Elections Alberta will issue the petition, announce signature collection dates and the required signature threshold, and release the official forms that must be used.
If the petition succeeds, it could reshape how Alberta funds education. Private schools reliant on government support would lose subsidies and potentially struggle financially. That could lead to shifts in enrollment toward public schools, raising the demand for more teachers, classrooms and support services. At the same time, public education advocates hope the redirected funds could bolster underfunded public schools and improve equity in access.
Elections Alberta officials say details and supporting documents, including the proponent’s statement, are posted on the “Current Initiative Petitions” page of its website.
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