15.64°C Vancouver

Sep 18, 2024 1:51 PM - The Canadian Press

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces $8.6-billion in school builds

Share On
alberta-premier-danielle-smith-announces-8-6-billion-in-school-builds
Smith says she expects the construction could lead to about 50-thousand new student spaces over the next three years.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says as classrooms get over whelmed with new grade school students, her government will fast-track new school builds with 8.6-billion dollars over the next three years. In a televised address, Smith says the province's existing education budget isn't enough to keep up with rapid population growth in kindergarten to Grade 12 schools.

She says often the only thing holding back cash is school boards getting projects and sites ready for construction. The government is also changing the process of approving construction funding so school boards don't need to wait every year for the next budget cycle to get the go-ahead. Smith's announcement comes as the province's two largest divisions, Edmonton Public Schools and the Calgary Board of Education, say their schools are expected to have a utilization rate of well over 90 per cent this school year.

Smith says she expects the construction could lead to about 50-thousand new student spaces over the next three years, and 12-thousand-500 new charter school student spaces over the next four years.

Latest news

liberals-roll-out-defence-investment-agency-to-speed-up-military-purchasing
CanadaOct 02, 2025

Liberals roll out Defence Investment Agency to speed up military purchasing

Ottawa is launching a new federal procurement agency designed to overhaul and centralize how the military buys its equipment. Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, who will oversee the new Defence Investment Agency, says it will deliver equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces at a faster pace that will better meet its needs. The Liberal government is tapping former Royal Bank of Canada executive Doug Guzman to manage the new agency, which will be housed within Public Services and Procurement Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on the promise to reform defence procur
BCOct 01, 2025

Police remind the public to be cautious against cryptocurrency frauds

Coquitlam RCMP remind the public to protect themselves against cryptocurrency fraud. Coquitlam RCMP has received multiple reports of individuals losing significant amounts of money after investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency apps. Scammers typically reach out through text messages, emails, or social media, claiming they’ve made thousands of dollars through cryptocurrency investments. They then convince victims to deposit money into a fake investment app. Once the money is deposited, the app displays fictitious profits to create the illusion of a successful investment. The scammers use th
chief-minister-mann-meets-home-minister-amit-shah
IndiaOct 01, 2025

Chief Minister Mann meets Home Minister Amit Shah

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During this meeting, he informed the Home Minister about the damage caused by floods in Punjab and demanded a special package. In this regard, he says that the Home Minister has assured Punjab of more help from the Center. He said that the meeting was held in a comfortable atmosphere and that the Union Home Minister has also promised to provide more central help by describing the announced financial package of 1600 crores as 'token money'. He said that the Punjab government has increased the state budget for compensatio
man-gets-six-years-for-shooting-arson-at-punjabi-singers-home-in-b-c
BCOct 01, 2025

Man gets six years for shooting, arson at Punjabi singer's home in B.C.

A Winnipeg man convicted of arson and firing a weapon at the British Columbia home of Indo-Canadian pop star AP Dhillon last year has been sentenced to six years in prison. RCMP say in a release that 26-year-old Abjeet Kingra has a noted connection to the India-based Bishnoi gang, and a judge concluded that the attack on Dhillon's Vancouver Island home last year was not isolated. The Bishnoi gang, based in India, has been linked to a number of investigations into violent crimes across Canada, and was classified as a terrorist entity by the federal government this week. The Mounties say Kingra
rcmp-slated-to-deliver-update-on-missing-six-year-old-alberta-boy
AlbertaOct 01, 2025

RCMP slated to deliver update on missing six-year-old Alberta boy

RCMP are expected to give an update later today on the search for a six-year-old boy missing from the southern Alberta Rockies. Darius Macdougall was reported missing on Sept. 21 after he didn't return from a walk with six young relatives in the Crowsnest Pass area, where his family had been camping. Mounties say his chances of survival in the mountainous terrain are slim, but that they won't scale back the search, noting there's been nothing to suggest foul play. The boy's family says they're grateful to the searchers and won't rest until he's brought home. Hundreds of searcher

Related News