Alberta given $262M to help bring school back

Alberta will be receiving just over a quarter of a billion dollars from the federal government towards assisting provinces and territories to re-open their schools safely.

The $262.8 million will allow the provincial government to work with local school boards to implement protective measures for students and staff, as well helping to adapt learning spaces, improve ventilation, purchase extra hand sanitizer, and buy PPE and cleaning supplies.

Communications officer, Northern Lights Public Schools, Nicole Garner, said the school division hasn’t been given information on what they will receive yet.

The announcement comes after concerns that returning to school will cause a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Funding will arrive in two installments, with the first payment expected this fall and a second to arrive in early 2021, however, provinces will need to advise the federal government on how they have spent the money before the second disbursement flows.

Education falls under provincial jurisdiction, and according to Prime Minister Trudeau, the money is meant only to “top up” provincial resources, and comes with no strings attached on how it’s spent.

“We respect the Constitution but we needed to find a way to help Canadians, and that’s what we’ve done,” he said.