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Shelley Svidal
Teachers’ Unfunded Pension Liability (UFL)
May 28—George VanderBurg (PC—Whitecourt–Ste. Anne) asked Minister of Education Ron Liepert to outline the rationale for the sliding scale [based on years of teaching experience]. Liepert replied that he has heard that the 3 per cent surcharge to address teachers’ UFL is a deterrent to teacher recruitment and retention. He added that the relief will give teachers with less than 15 years’ experience an additional $1,200 to $1,400 next year. VanderBurg asked Liepert why he has suggested the task force suspend its activities in the event of labour disruption, adding that it seems unfair to penalize one part of the province for a strike in another part of the province. Liepert responded that the task force will consider what constitutes a fair return to taxpayers for assuming a $2 billion unfunded liability. In the event of labour disruption, Liepert said he does not want the task force to be unduly influenced by negative media and opposition comments. VanderBurg asked Liepert why he is not treating the UFL and labour negotiations as two separate challenges. Liepert replied that the UFL and labour negotiations are separate, with the former being between the government and the ATA and the latter being between school boards and local bargaining units. He added that the processes will work parallel to each other, not in conflict with each other.
May 29—Alluding to Liepert’s position on teachers’ UFL and education funding, David Eggen (NDP—Edmonton-Calder) suggested that Liepert had managed to unite teachers and school boards in defence of public education. Eggen asked Liepert when he would abandon his antagonistic attitude and sit down with teachers and boards to avert layoffs and strikes. Liepert replied that the government is not involved in negotiating teachers’ collective agreements. Quoting Premier Ed Stelmach’s statement that he would never use the unfunded liability "as a bargaining chip in the heat of a labour dispute," Eggen asked Liepert whether it would not be better to sort out the UFL now than to wait until November, when 30,000 teachers will be without collective agreements and the UFL will have grown. Eggen asked Liepert to abandon the task force and sort out the UFL now. Liepert stated that the prudent thing to do is what the government is doing—having a small group go out, listen to taxpayers and get a feel for what they believe would be a reasonable exchange for the unfunded liability.
Education Funding
May 28—Noting that Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 had suggested it would lose 30-plus teachers as a result of the government’s cut to education funding, Eggen asked the education minister why the government refuses to give schools the resources they need. Liepert replied that the education budget has been not cut but increased by 5.2 per cent or closer to 10 per cent when compared to 2006/07 estimates. Noting that Liepert has suggested cash-strapped boards access their capital reserves, Eggen asked the minister how he could suggest they "blow off" their long-term planning to compensate for the government’s poor budgeting practices. Liepert responded that the government has developed a fair budget for Albertans.
School Fees and Fundraising
May 28—Bill 208, School (Restrictions on Fees and Fund-raising) Amendment Act, 2007, was defeated at second reading by a vote of 32 to 11. Sponsored by Jack Flaherty (LIB—St. Albert), the bill would have prohibited schools operated by school boards from charging fees or raising funds for basic educational services or supplies.
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