Despite claims by left-wing politicians and the legacy media that provinces have spent less money on public education, a study by the Fraser Institute has found that education spending has actually increased in eight out of ten provinces.
According to the report Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2023 Edition if you adjust for inflation a vast majority of provinces have actually increased spending on education.
“Contrary to what we often hear, spending is on the rise in public schools across Canada, and in most cases, it’s outpacing inflation and enrolment changes,” said Fraser Institute senior fellow Michael Swaagstra in a press release.
Annual spending on education across Canada has increased by a whopping $7.8 billion if taking into account inflation and enrollment changes between 2012 and 2021.
Analysts also found that when adjusting for inflation, spending per student increased by 8.3%, with Quebec seeing the highest increase (32.9%), followed by Nova Scotia (26.9%) and Prince Edward Island (19%).
The only two provinces to see a decline in per student spending were Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“It is clear from the data presented that from 2012/13 to 2020/21 inflation-adjusted per-student education spending in public schools has increased nationally and in eight of the ten provinces,” wrote the Fraser Institute.
“Nationally, education spending has increased by more than necessary to offset the effects of growth in enrolment and inflation; this means billions of dollars in additional spending.”
Additionally, teachers were getting paid more over the time period specified.
The Fraser Institute found that compensation for education workers contributed the most in total growth in spending with a spike of 25.6%.
Salaries and wages alone grew by 24.7% while fringe benefits grew from $5.5 billion to $7.7 billion over the same time period.
“It is clear from the data presented that from 2012/13 to 2020/21 inflation-adjusted per-student education spending in public schools has increased nationally and in eight of the ten prov-
Inces,” concluded the report.
“Nationally, education spending has increased by more than necessary to offset the effects of growth in enrolment and inflation; this means billions of dollars in additional spending.”
