Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Bill 74

Province announces a new vision for post-secondary education

Oct 28, 2021 | 9:50 AM

Alberta’s government is introducing a number of legislative changes aimed at supporting the strategic direction of the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative and recommendations of the Skills for Jobs Task Force.

As part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, government officials say the proposed Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act would make key changes to the preamble of the Post-secondary Learning Act to reflect the transformational work happening through the Alberta 2030 initiative.

It’s also hoped to provide the authority to establish the Minister’s Advisory Council on Higher Education and Skills (MACHES), which is expected to be the new strategic advisory council for Alberta’s post-secondary system.

“Alberta 2030 is a transformational plan for our post-secondary system,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education, in a press release this week. “At its core, the strategy will work to build skills for jobs to ensure that Albertans develop the knowledge and competencies they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. As part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, Bill 74 makes important changes to existing legislation to enshrine the strategic vision of the initiative, and paves the way for phased implementation.”

According to government officials, the proposed updates to the preamble of the Post-secondary Learning Act will adopt the language and strategic vision set forward by Alberta 2030. This was said to be developed through evidence-based analysis, best practices and the most extensive stakeholder engagement in this sector in 15 years.

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The creation of MACHES will now establish an advisory body that will provide advice and recommendations on the strategic goals and direction of Alberta’s advanced education system.

Bill 74 also proposes additional amendments to refine the Post-secondary Learning Act and further align it with Alberta 2030, as well as three amendments to the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act to improve the transition from the outgoing Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act in 2022.

NDP Critic for Advanced Education David Eggen issued the following statement in response to the government’s introduction of Bill 74, the Advanced Education Statute Amendment Act 2021:

“The biggest challenge the post-secondary sector in Alberta is facing is the brutalization of their schools by the UCP. Tuition is soaring, there have been massive layoffs, and almost $700 million in cuts since the UCP have formed government.

“This is causing permanent harm to Albertans and to our economy.

“It’s pushing higher education out of reach for young people and Albertans looking for retraining to change careers. It’s damaging our reputation as a centre of research and innovation.

“This is directly contributing to the exodus of young families and professionals from Alberta.

“This bill does not help post-secondary. In true UCP style, it is ripe with inaction. It is a plan to make a plan. I urge the Minister to consult properly with the staff, faculty, and students in post-secondary to reverse his cuts and start repairing the damage his government has inflicted on this sector.”