Latest report on child poverty illustrates persistent growth in number of Albertan children living in poverty
The Edmonton Social Planning Council, Public Interest Alberta, and the Alberta College of Social Workers have jointly released a new report on the challenges faced by Albertan children and youth titled “One in Six is Too Many: An Alberta Child Poverty Report”.
Read moreIncreases to income support programs reduce poverty and correct an injustice
EDMONTON – The Government of Alberta has introduced An Act to Combat Poverty and Fight for Albertans with Disabilities, which if passed will increase and index income support rates for its Income Support and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) programs. These are changes Public Interest Alberta has been advocating for years.
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Changes to Post-Secondary Learning Act hailed as a positive step forward
EDMONTON – The Minister of Advanced Education has tabled Bill 19: An Act to Improve the Affordability and Accessibility of Post-Secondary Education, which focuses on the affordability, accessibility, and quality of post-secondary education in institutions across Alberta. The legislation follows a tuition review launched nearly two years ago.
Read moreNew data shows more than 300,000 Albertans receiving minimum wage raises
Edmonton - Public Interest Alberta has released new data from Statistics Canada showing that more than 300,000 Albertans, nearly one in six workers, will receive a raise when the minimum wage is raised from $13.60 to $15.00 per hour on October 1, 2018.
Read moreFederal poverty strategy will have limited impact without funding commitments
EDMONTON – The federal government has released its long-anticipated poverty reduction strategy, titled Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The strategy sets a standard measure for poverty and aims to reduce it 20 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030.
Read morePost-Secondary Education organizations highlight the need for affordable post-secondary education, accountable governance, and stable funding
EDMONTON – Members of Public Interest Alberta’s Post-Secondary Education Task Force held a meeting with the Honourable Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education, earlier today to discuss priorities for Alberta’s post-secondary education system.
Read more“Revenue Reno” event in Red Deer calls for more tax revenue to protect and revitalize public services
RED DEER – Public Interest Alberta hosted a public discussion in Red Deer for its Revenue Reno campaign, which aims to stimulate a broad public conversation in the province about the government’s revenue shortage and the quality of public services.
Read moreAlberta budget problems and omissions the result of inferior tax system
The Alberta government has released its 2018 budget, which includes effective cuts to most areas of public services, as spending fails to keep pace with inflation and population growth.
“The piecemeal cuts to public services in the budget take Alberta in the wrong direction, but the striking thing is what is not in the budget,” said Joel French, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “Absent are many things Albertans need, like improved classroom conditions in schools and addressing the shortage of long-term care beds for seniors.”
School board policies need big changes to effectively support LGBTQ students, staff, and families before March 31 deadline
A new report on four school boards’ policies and procedures on sexual and gender minorities points to the need for substantial changes in order to properly protect students and their rights, according to Public Interest Alberta.
Read moreNew "Revenue Reno" campaign calls for Alberta to raise more tax revenue to protect and revitalize public services
EDMONTON – Public Interest Alberta has launched a new campaign called Revenue Reno to encourage a public conversation in the province about the government’s revenue shortage and the quality of public services. The campaign emphasizes Alberta’s need to renovate its tax system with changes to personal income tax rates and the introduction of a sales tax to protect and revitalize public services.
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