B.C. Liberals’ education spending claim is misleading, says critic

A new report by a Vancouver-based think tank is throwing cold water on the B.C. Liberal government’s claim that education funding is at record levels.

The province has said repeatedly it’s investing $5.1 billion in public education for the 2016/17 school year. The Ministry of Education said that’s an increase of $1.2 billion since 2001, despite there being 10 per cent fewer students in the province.

However, Alex Hemingway, a public finance policy analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said the statement isn’t entirely accurate.

“It’s fundamentally misleading is what it is,” Hemingway said.

When adjusted for inflation and cost downloads, such as computer upgrades and hydro costs, Hemingway said the numbers don’t point to record spending.

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“FOI documents tell us that those cost pressures downloaded add up to at least a $102 million dollars from the 2012 to 2014 school years,” he said.

What’s more, Hemingway said British Columbia is lagging in per student funding.

“The growth in spending in B.C. is far behind the national average.”

The CCPA’s numbers are wrong, the Ministry of Education argues.

In a statement emailed to Global News, the province said the CCPA’s numbers are flawed.

According to a ministry spokesperson, “the reason the report’s GDP numbers are wrong is the CCPA ignores the fact that back in 2001 a number of items were included in the education budget (like borrowing costs) that are not included now.”

The ministry said the report also ignores B.C.’s high student outcomes.

Still, with less than year to go until the provincial election, the Parents Advocacy Network says the report underscores what they’ve long since suspected. Andrea Sinclair, the group’s co-founder, is vowing to make public education a ballot box issue.

“Education needs to be made a priority and we’re hoping that all parties active in the election are hearing that message,” Sinclair said.

“We’re not partisan. We’re not saying vote for one party over another party. If you look at their records, they’re not always gleaming in all cases.”