Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides announcing Budget 2026 investments in schools, classrooms and students. (Image Credit: Government of Alberta)

By Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta government to earmark $10.8B for education ahead of deficit budget

Feb 25, 2026 | 3:39 PM

The Alberta government is offering more details about how it plans to account for education ahead of Thursday’s budget release.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says if passed, the budget will allocate $10.8 billion for education a seven per cent hike from last year.

Premier Danielle Smith says the money will be used to hire 1,600 teachers and 800 support staff in the 2026-27 school year.

The increase comes following a massive teachers’ strike last fall over wages and working conditions.

It ended after the government ordered teachers back to work by invoking the Charter’s notwithstanding clause.

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Nicolaides says he hopes the increase will show the province is listening to teachers’ concerns.

It’s the latest detail shared ahead of the budget, which is expected to include a multibillion-dollar deficit.

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(The Canadian Press)