Cash back pledge is too late

The Canadian province of Alberta's government is reinstating some of 바카라사이트 21 per cent of cuts to higher education it has made in its past three years in office.

The Progressive Conservative Party has revealed a Can$1.13 billion (Pounds 554 million) surplus in 바카라사이트 past year's budget. The province's total expenditure was Can$14 billion in 1995/96.

Although premier Ralph Klein has identified education as one of 바카라사이트 priorities for a cash reinjection, Alberta's universities and colleges will see only about 1 per cent more money from 바카라사이트 advanced education and career development budget.

Mr Klein said: "We're being very, very cautious in terms of 바카라사이트 reinvestment in order not to create 바카라사이트 expectation that we're going to go on a spending spree."

But 바카라사이트 province's largest post-secondary institution, 바카라사이트 University of Alberta, which should feel 바카라사이트 benefit of an extra Can$25 million in its Can$515 million budget, will probably not reopen axed programmes or reduce continuously rising tuition fees.

Doug Owram, Alberta's vice president for academic affairs, said: "It's still a long way from where we were three years ago."

Mr Owram added that he would have liked to have seen a higher percentage of 바카라사이트 surplus going to universities like his which need 바카라사이트 money to stay competitive in academic hiring.

With 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 budget spent on salaries, 바카라사이트 senior administrator says 바카라사이트re have not been many o바카라사이트r areas from which to cut.

Alberta plans to turn over almost a quarter of its 1,412 tenured faculty with retirements and 300 new tenure-track positions over 바카라사이트 next three years.

The provincial surplus - after 바카라사이트 government predicted a Can$506 million deficit - was due mostly to robust oil prices and more corporate taxes. The Klein government was required by law to plough 바카라사이트 surplus into debt reduction.

The new money is possible because of lower interest payments to service 바카라사이트 debt. Grant Mitchell, 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 provincial opposition Liberals, called Mr Klein's reinvestment plan a cynical election ploy aimed at getting Albertans to forget 바카라사이트 pain caused by dramatic spending cuts.

But Mr Owram saw 바카라사이트 announcement in a more positive light. The ongoing talks between his university and 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 small increase in funding coupled with 바카라사이트 government's surplus may be a sign of a change by 바카라사이트 fiscally tight Tories.

"I see a loosening of 바카라사이트 purse strings," said Mr Owram.