Sask. NDP says education 'budget chaos' is bad for kids, families
The Saskatchewan NDP is describing the Sask. Party's approach to school funding "last-minute budget chaos."
After an outcry from school divisions, school boards, and unions, the Sask. Party government announced a $40 million top-up for the province's schools.
“It’s clear from the rally that was held on the steps of the legislature that this is a major issue for both parents and educators. Everyone’s family is impacted by these cuts in different ways and it’s frustrating knowing that this all could have been prevented had the government just properly invested in our kids,” opposition NDP leader Carla Beck said in a news release.
The additional funding came a month after Premier Scott Moe indicated more money could be coming for schools, following a rally held at the legislature calling for more money for students.
A day before education minister Dustin Duncan announced the new money, multiple school divisions told CTV News they still hadn't heard anything and were still busy trying to create their budgets based on the money they were promised in the provincial budget.
“It’s been a while since a provincial budget was so bad that emergency funding was announced just three weeks later,” NDP education critic Matt Love said in the news release.
While the Saskatchewan government's 2023-24 budget projected a $1 billion surplus, the province's school divisions argued their funding allotment in the March budget amounted to a less-than-one per cent increase — insufficient to handle growing enrollment.
Even with the additional money announced last week, the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and Saskatchewan School Boards Association both say the money falls short of what is actually needed to fund schools adequately.
With the additional $40 million, the education ministry says the operating budget for Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions for the 2023-24 school year now sits at $2.08 billion.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Duncan indicated it may be time to look at the annual timeline for school budgeting.
"Maybe that doesn't work for any of us anymore," Duncan said.
"I've committed to the school divisions [that] we're certainly willing to continue a conversation with them."
--With files from Josh Lynn
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.