Concerns grow as N.S. cuts millions from education in new budget

Experts are weighing-in on the upcoming cuts coming to early childhood education right up to university funding.

Major cuts are coming to education in Nova Scotia.

“Anytime you’re making cuts like this it’s tough,” says Brendan Maguire, the minister responsible for both early childhood development and advanced education.

Tens of millions of dollars are being held back, including funds for universities, scholarships, arts programs and supports for early childhood education.

“When we see some of the in-classroom reductions, such as arts and cultural experiences, it is going to impact kids academically,” says the director of the Oxford Learning Centre, Lorelei Burgess. “So, some kids only have access to these things at school. I feel like the kids who are most vulnerable will be most impacted by these cuts.”

“I feel like kids are going to fall further and further behind so the more we cut, especially when it comes to, often times people think of arts or cultural activities, sports as extras to education and really, they’re not,” Burgess says.

Cuts are also coming to some African Nova Scotian programming.

“In general, we are seeing an impact on all of our sister organizations and our ourselves and as we have a collective approach to doing things, I just want to amplify for people how significant that is in terms of negative impact in terms of our communities,” says the CEO of the Delmore Buddy Day Learning Institute.

The cost-saving measures by the province are a response to its $1.2 billion deficit. Still, Sylvia Parris-Drummond says the timing of the cuts is insulting.

“I feel very hurt that this is happening during African Heritage Month. I feel it very deeply, I’m sure other community folks do as well,” the CEO says.

Minister Brendan Maguire says not all funds are being withheld.

“When it comes to African Nova Scotia, African Canadian community we still have a whole host of supports in the department to the tune of $4.5 million dollars,” he said.

University students are planning to voice their opposition to these cuts. The Canadian Federation of Students is holding a strike vote in the coming weeks. If the support is there, a provincewide strike will be held the week of March 15.

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