Danielle Smith Lanches $8.6 Billion Plan to Build 50,000 Student Spaces Amid Alberta’s Population Boom
Premier Danielle Smith has unveiled an ambitious school construction plan to address the growing pressure on Alberta’s education system caused by a population surge. The School Construction Accelerator Program, announced during a televised address, aims to create 50,000 student spaces over the next three years.The initiative, which will cost $8.6 billion over the three-year period, includes an additional $6.5 billion on top of the $2.1 billion already allocated for school construction. Smith further outlined plans to create an additional 150,000 student spaces over the subsequent four years, bringing the total to 200,000 new spaces over seven years.
“This is the fastest and largest school build our province can manage, considering the current workforce and the time needed to prepare and service available school sites,” Smith emphasized. The plan reflects Alberta’s urgent need for new educational infrastructure as the province’s population continues to grow rapidly.The Premier mentioned that funding has been approved for schools in several locations, including Calgary, Edmonton, Barrhead, Breton Mallaig, Redcliff, Taber, and Wainwright. However, she did not provide specifics regarding how many schools would be built or whether the projects would involve public-private partnerships. Additionally, no information was shared about how Alberta plans to recruit the extra teachers needed to support the growing student population.
Alberta has experienced a notable population boom, with more than 200,000 people moving to the province in 2023 alone. This has led to overcrowded schools, especially in cities like Edmonton and Calgary. Smith stated that Alberta’s education system is adding 33,000 students annually, which is equivalent to 35 new schools each year. By 2027, some school divisions are projected to be out of high school capacity.
While much of the population influx has been driven by job opportunities and low taxes, Smith criticized the federal Liberal government for what she described as “unrestrained open border policies,” which she believes are contributing to the strain on Alberta’s infrastructure.To address immediate capacity needs, the accelerator fund will also allow the province to purchase specialized modular classrooms, capable of accommodating 20,000 new students while new schools are constructed.
