After promising in the last election that Alberta’s strong history of school choice would be strengthened and protected, the Choice in Education Act officially passed in the legislature.
It’s another promise made and a promise kept by Jason Kenney and United Conservaitve MLAs.
The fact is, when the NDP were in power, they targeted independent schools and charter schools, while NDP front groups demanded an end to school choice entirely.
Their approach to education was a “we know best” approach, where they believed in giving more power to centralized planners in Edmonton, instead of putting more power in the hands of parents.
In Alberta, we have a long tradition of supporting school choice.
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) May 29, 2020
It’s parents who are best suited to decide what education is best for their children - not politicians. #abed pic.twitter.com/hF7uCeqB76
That’s why United Conservatives promised during the election to maintain and improve upon Alberta’s strong history of school choice.
The Choice in Education Act does just that. It makes it clear that parents, not politicians, have the right to choose the type of education that’s best for their children.
It adds recognition of Section 25.3 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children” in Alberta’s Education Act.
It expands school options for parents.
And it’s a win for all Albertans.