EDMONTON – Health and education have become the sacred cows of the Alberta government.
While other departments had their budgets maintained or trimmed in the provincial 2000-01 budget, health and education got substantial boosts.
Alberta treasurer Stockwell Day’s $17.7 billion spending package puts an additional $482 million into health and $266 million more into education. Much of the increase was announced before the budget was tabled Feb. 24.
Thousands of jobs
Health and education now account for 57 percent of the budget. Part of the additional money will be spent to hire 2,400 new nurses and 2,200 teachers and aides over the next three years.
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But NDP interim leader Raj Pannu said the government is only playing catchup after years of cutbacks.
The nurses and teachers are needed to keep up with Alberta’s growing population, overcrowded classrooms and long hospital waiting lists.
Money for health was greeted with enthusiasm, but some people are worried the extra money will be siphoned into private health centres.
“It will cost more. It will not reduce hospital waiting lists,” Pannu said.
“And this extra money they’re putting into health care will go into the pockets of private, for-profit, health-care operators.”
Liberal leader Nancy MacBeth said: “There’s nothing to stop the leaky bucket which sees public taxpayers’ dollars going to subsidize private operators in the province.”
Day said the government is not discounting private health centres. And it is asking Albertans for suggestions to improve services and reduce costs.
“We’re asking people to come forward with bold but people-friendly solutions for the delivery of services resulting in better care, shorter lineups, no cost to the patient, and all within the Canada Health Act.”
