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EDMONTON—The Alberta government’s 2025 budget delivers tax cuts while shifting costs onto workers, underfunding public services, and funnelling more money into private schools at the expense of the public education system.
“Workers aren’t fooled by this government’s spin,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This budget gives tax cuts with one hand but takes from workers with the other through higher fees, property tax hikes, and underfunding public education and health care.”
The budget maintains Alberta’s 8% corporate tax rate, the lowest in the country, costing the province billions every year in lost potential revenue. A 2% income tax cut on the first $60,000 of earnings announced in the budget is off-set by increased taxes elsewhere—including a 6% increase in education property taxes.
Education workers left behind
Despite Alberta’s rapidly growing student population, Budget 2025 fails to make investments in public education that could reverse the trend of growing classroom size and underpaid staff. Funding increases largely mirror enrolment growth, meaning working conditions for Unifor members working as educational support staff will not improve.
“Education workers are already stretched thin, and instead of fixing the problem, this government is turning its back on public schools,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “It’s a deliberate policy choice that will leave public schools struggling while enriching private operators.”
Workers paying the price
The budget also signals a continued hard line in public-sector wages, choosing to prioritize corporate tax breaks over reinvesting in the workers who provide essential public services.
“This is a government that talks about making life more affordable while doing the exact opposite,” said Payne. “Workers will pay more in hidden costs, while corporations continue to pocket massive tax breaks. This is not a budget for working people—it’s a budget for CEOs.”
Unifor is Canada’s largest private-sector union, representing 320,000 workers in every major sector of the economy, including energy, manufacturing, education, telecommunications, transportation, and public services. The union advocates for all workers and their rights to fair wages, safe workplaces, and strong public services.
