Province may not deliver on new education funding

Alberta'seducation minister warned school boards at a private meetingin Calgary on Tuesday night that the government may not be able to deliver on its promise for new education funding.

In the spring of 2012, PremierAlison Redford pledged to increase education grant funding byone per cent next year, andtwo per cent in the second and third years.

Redford said in a year-end interview with CBC News Calgarythat Alberta's fiscal reality has changed butshe wouldn't confirmif theprovince will have to break any funding promises.

"I am sure that as we move forward that the opposition, whose job is to oppose, will say thosesorts of things," she said.

"But on the other hand, we've got to look on how we balance priorities to make sure that we are providing the best possible opportunities for kids andI think we will be able to do that."

On Tuesday night, Education Minister Jeff Johnsontold representatives from 62 school boardsthat money is tight.

The government's message comes as school boards across the province are entering contract talks with the teachers' union.

"This is going to be interesting for us and challenging,"said Jacquie Hansen, president of the Alberta School Boards Association.

The Alberta Teachers' Association walked away from province-wide talks with the Alberta government last week.

That led to the government's decision to handcontract talks back to individual school boards.