The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has responded to cuts announced at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP).
RDP is facing a $10 million deficit for its 2025/2026 budget due to the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) impacts to international student enrolments, along with rising inflation and an anticipated zero per cent increase to the post-secondary institution’s base grant funding from the Government of Alberta.
The post-secondary institution says it is currently planning for a reduction of approximately 35 to 40 positions total from all employee groups (AUPE, Faculty Association and Exempt Managers).
AUPE has a different perspective, stating that more than 100 workers will lose their jobs at RDP with between 35-45 of those workers being AUPE members.
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The union says those numbers are dependent on the Alberta Government approving the institution’s proposed deficit budget, adding if the government does not approve the plan, these numbers could double.
“Losing these jobs would be a blow to Red Deer’s economy,” says AUPE Vice-President Curtis Jackson. “It’s a blow to the workers, their families, and the community. Cuts like this could be coming across the province if the government does not give hard-working Albertans some good news in this year’s provincial budget.”
Jackson says post-secondary education needs stable, predictable funding sources, which includes increased investment from the provincial government.
“The Alberta government has let our post-secondary institutions fall far behind,” he added. “Schools like Red Deer Polytechnic are crucial for our young workforce and our future. The Government of Alberta has the ability to resume meaningful investments in post-secondary education. Doing so would directly increase the number of skilled workers in our province.”
AUPE members at Red Deer Polytechnic will meet later this month to discuss the situation.
“If nothing changes, Alberta is in a lose-lose situation,” stated Jackson. “Not only are we losing jobs at post-secondary institutions, but we are also negatively impacting our ability to educate the new workers Alberta needs to strengthen the critical services Albertans depend on, like health care, education, trades, and government services.
“We know this is just the start. We know other post-secondary institutions in Alberta are struggling with the same issues. If we don’t stand up for our jobs, our communities, and well-funded post-secondary education, who will?”
RDP has announced that it will be suspending five programs and will also be reducing its academic upgrading offering.
On Feb. 11, more than two dozen students’ associations from across the province sent an open letter to the Government of Alberta asking for base funding to be restored to 2019 levels.
The letter states that "since cuts began in 2019, Alberta has dropped from being Canada's third-most educated province to its sixth."
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