Post-secondary schools to receive $155M for maintenance
Last Updated: Friday, August 29, 2008 | 3:34 PM ET
CBC News
The Alberta government said Friday it will spend nearly $155 million on maintenance of public post-secondary institutions in the province.
The amount, announced just before students go back to school next week, is the largest to be allocated by the province for post-secondary maintenance.
"We are listening to our post-secondary institutions," Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner said in a news release. "We are taking a chunk out of the backlog and addressing ongoing maintenance needs before they become pressing issues."
Horner said $82.5 million of the funding will be distributed over two years to fund 26 maintenance and renewal projects at 12 institutions.
He said the remaining $72.3 million will be provided this fiscal year to fund annual maintenance and renewal needs at all 21 public post-secondary institutions in Alberta and represents more than double the investment made last year.
Infrastructure Minister Jack Hayden said the institutions need to be maintained to provide a good learning environment for students.
"A well-maintained learning environment plays an important role in the success of students," he said. "By investing in the infrastructure of our post-secondary institutions, we are investing in the future of our students and our province."
The money is part of Alberta's capital plan, a 20-year strategy that the province has drawn up to maintain public infrastructure.


