By Dirk Huysman, Local #38 Vice-President
The Political Action Committee and Executive members enjoyed the opportunity to talk with many teachers at our booth at this year’s Teachers’ Convention. Our committee’s theme was “The $400.” Thanks to everyone who played the wheel with us, imagining other uses for our province’s $1.4 billion!
Recently each Albertan received $400 from the Alberta Government, a “Prosperity Bonus.” Is this good fiscal management? Our Political Action Committee considered this issue and investigated alternatives. What is important to you in this province? If you have any projects in mind that you think would benefit our province, please let us know and we’ll add them to the list.
| ITEM | PER ITEM COST (APPROXIMATE) | # OF ITEMS |
| Urban High School | $30,000,000 | 47 |
| Elementary School | $6,000,000 | 233 |
| Teacher Years | $75,000 | 19,000 |
| Urban Hospitals | $400,000,000 | 3 + $200M for staffing |
| Textbooks | $70 | 20,000,000 |
| Teacher Librarian Years/ Alberta School | $165,000,000 (2200 schools) | 8 |
| Per School Repair Budget | $636,363 | 2200 |
| Guidance Counsellor Years /AB School | $165,000,000 | 8 |
| Sub Days/AB teacher for PD | $6,400,000 | 219 |
| Support $/ Immigrant to AB | $42,000 | 33,500 |
| Tuition for a 4 yr. post-secondary degree | $20,000 | 70,000 |
| Traffic Interchange | $56,000,000 | 25 |
| LRT Car | $5,500,000 | 255 |
| LRT Stations | $74,000,000 | 19 |
| Computers for Students/ Schools | $1400 | 1,000,000 |
| Alberta Health Insurance Premiums for all Albertans | $1056 (fam), $528 (single) | 1 year for all Albertans |
| Breakfast program for students | $300/child/year (590,000 AB students) | 8 years |
| Guided Reading Program materials | $3180 | 440,000 |
| ATRF Unfunded Liability | $6,000,000,000 | 1/4 |
Alberta’s 2005-2006 surplus is now estimated at $7.4-$10 billion (depending on source), with a projected surplus for next year of $4 billion +. We hope you will consider contacting your MLA and making your voice heard about how that money can best help us realize our vision for Alberta’s future. Let him or her know you care about public education, and the well-being of Albertans. Suggest ways our government could make better use of our “prosperity” next time around.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Have a comment about this article? Want to write a letter to the editor or maybe an article yourself? Contact ataglance@ata38.ab.ca to find out more.
© May 2006, ATA Local #38 Calgary Public Teachers
