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By Alex McCuaig

Education funding

NDP warn of financial woes for Alberta’s post-secondary institutions

May 27, 2020 | 4:36 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial opposition’s advanced education critic is warning of dire circumstances ahead for Alberta’s post-secondary institutions dealing with multiple financial challenges.

The NDP’s David Eggen says the cumulative effects of budget cuts along with the declining enrolment and absence of international students due to the COVID-19 pandemic could put the future viability of colleges and universities at risk.

In the legislature on Wednesday, Eggen estimated the number of layoffs at the province’s post-secondary institutes as 3,600. A claim refuted by Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides.

“Everything will lead up to a crisis situation that the government needs to backstop,” said Eggen in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s not just a question of a couple of bucks to tide you over. This could be an existential problem for many colleges and universities where they literally will have the bottom fall out of their budget.”

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Eggen says the issue could risk the future of some post-secondary institutes and has already seen layoffs and program cuts at the Medicine Hat College.