Edmonton...Budget 2006 features the largest ever, single-year increase in Advanced Education spending, a 19 per cent increase of $353 million for a total budget of $2.2 billion. By 2008-09, the budget will be over $2.5 billion.

The 2006 budget includes a six per cent increase in base operating grants for public, post-secondary institutions for each of the next three years. It also includes tuition coverage this fall; more money to increase enrollment; and first-time funding from the Access to the Future Fund.

"This province is growing at a tremendous pace and we need to expand the human potential of the province. The government, post-secondary institutions, and businesses will continue working together to expand the province's learning opportunities and find solutions to skill and labour shortages," said Advanced Education Minister Dave Hancock. "Post-secondary education remains a top government priority and our record-breaking budget of $2.2 billion backs up that promise."

In 2006-07, Human Resources and Employment will dedicate close to $294 million to programs and services that address skill and labour shortages, an increase of $25 million. The budget features funding to boost the participation of under-represented groups, including Aboriginal people and immigrants, in the province's labour force.

All of these initiatives mark the Alberta government's investment to build and educate Alberta's workforce and a commitment to strengthen homegrown solutions for our future prosperity.

"Our economy is growing and Albertans need to be able to take advantage of that," added Mike Cardinal, Minister of Human Resources and Employment. "This budget helps government build Alberta's workforce by investing in developing the skills and potential of Albertans, including those under-represented in the workforce, like Aboriginal people and immigrants."

Overall, more money is flowing into the following areas:

• Tuition: The government will again pay tuition increases at all public, post-secondary institutions this coming fall. As well, when a new tuition fee policy is put in place for September 2007, it will be based on 2004 tuition rates.  A total of $87 million will be provided in Budget 2006 to cover tuition increases, an increase of $44 million over last year's tuition coverage. This funding will be included in institutions' operating budgets on an ongoing basis, preventing students from facing a triple increase in tuition in 2007. Advanced Education will be releasing a new policy framework on tuition and affordability by the fall 2006.
• More Student Spaces: Last year, the government made a commitment to expand learning opportunities within the post-secondary system. In this budget year, $61 million will go to universities, colleges, and technical institutions to create more spaces, expand apprenticeship training capacity, and encourage participation in advanced learning opportunities.
• Support to Institutions: Support to post-secondary institutions will increase by $166 million (11.6 per cent) to a level of almost $1.6 billion. This includes base operating grant increases of $61 million in 2006-07 to address higher operating costs. Operating grants will increase by 18 per cent over the next three years. Institutions will also receive over $1.1 billion for the next three years through Advanced Education for capital projects including $273 million this year. Major projects include a new Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science at the University of Alberta, the Campus Calgary Digital Library at the University of Calgary, and the second phase of a redevelopment at Bow Valley College.
• Access to the Future Fund: The endowment is now at $750 million, which will provide millions of dollars to launch new and innovative post-secondary initiatives. In 2006-07, $45 million will be available. This includes an additional $11 million from income earned in 2005-06.
• Community programs: Community programs funded by Advanced Education - such as literacy programs, English as a Second Language programs, and immigrant bridging programs - will receive a six per cent budget increase to a total of $19.7 million in 2006-07.
• Skills Training: The Alberta government is working to build a new future, one that is more inclusive and will provide more opportunities for all Albertans.

This year the Advanced Education budget for apprenticeship training will grow to $27.1 million to support the record number of apprentices in the province. The total number of registered apprentices in Alberta is now more than 47,000, an increase of 98 per cent since 1995.

In addition, Human Resources and Employment will commit $8.1 million to help train apprentices, an increase of 33 per cent. This increase will make apprenticeship training available to approximately 1,000 more people.

As well, Human Resources and Employment will expand its Aboriginal Training-to-Employment program to help almost 800 people, with an increase of $3.6 million to a total of $6.3 million. Additionally, $40 million will be committed to other Alberta Works programming for training in occupations experiencing skill and labour shortages. This is an increase of $4 million and will benefit about 400 more people.

Human Resources and Employment will also spend $45.1 million to help immigrants participate in and benefit from Alberta's economy, an increase of 15 per cent. English as a Second Language training will be expanded allowing an additional 400 people to benefit, bringing the total to 3,500; through bridging programs, 120 more professional immigrants will gain Canadian work experience; and settlement services will be enhanced.

• Student Loans and Scholarships: A total of $97 million will be allocated for student loans, up
  $13 million (15 per cent) from last year. In addition, yearly student loan limits will increase by $300 to $12,440 to recognize students' increased living costs. Funding for scholarships, bursaries, and grants will increase by $14.9 million up to $84 million in 2006-07. This is a 21.5 per cent increase over last year. The Alberta Centennial Scholarships Program will begin awarding scholarships in 2006-07. The $652,000 program will provide scholarships each year worth $2,005 each to 25 post-secondary students in each province and territory across Canada, including Alberta.

Information about the budgets and business plans are available online:

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This news release is available on the Government of Alberta homepage at: http://www.gov.ab.ca

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