University of Alberta president David Turpin said that despite attempts to work with the government to “reach an agreement,” mass layoffs due to the 2020 provincial budget will go forward, amid the COVID-19 crisis.
In a blog post Monday, Turpin said the cuts will lead to the loss of over 1,000 jobs at the school, through retirements, attrition, layoffs, and position closures.
The UCP passed its budget last week, adding an additional $500-million boost to the province’s front-line health care workers to help fight COVID-19.
But the cuts to post-secondary funding remain, including a $110-million cut to U of A funding, said Turpin. “The emergence of this public health crisis has put added stress on everyone,” he said. “Regrettably it has not