Reaction pours in following delivery of Alberta budget

CALGARY (660NEWS) — They praise health-care workers one moment, and take from the same professionals the next.

That reaction coming from the Vice President of Health Sciences Association of Alberta, Trudy Thomson, shortly after the details of the provincial budget were released Thursday.

“The Finance Minister took the time to address ‘public sector workers directly’ and said they are going above and beyond’ — and then he threatens their livelihoods and their families,” Thomson said in a release.

READ MORE: ‘Protecting lives and livelihoods’: Alberta releases budget focused on recovery

Thomson goes on to say the newly released budget is a “slap in the face to health care providers who have worked tirelessly over the last year to keep Albertans safe.”

WATCH: In response to the budget, the mayors of Alberta’s two largest cities are not mincing words.

Meanwhile, President of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Guy Smith says the budget is “pretty devastating to the fine women and men who provide public services to the people of the province because there’s nothing in there but cuts.”

Smith directed his attention to government services, addressing cuts in the corrections and transportation departments, while also highlighting 750 post-secondary education jobs that will be cut.

“That just does not make any sense, especially at a time when those post-secondary institutions should be supported to attract fine young talent in this province,” Smith said. “In trying to get us through a health crisis and economic crisis, this budget does the complete opposite.”

When it comes to front-line health care workers, Smith adds the lack of support for the workers shows just how “mean-spirited this government is that it can’t support the people who are supporting Alberta.”

READ MORE: Higher rail capacity could boost Alberta’s GDP: report

Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling was another leader in the province who was left severely disappointed in the budget.

"We need to see kids funded the moment they walk through those doors." -Jason Schilling, ATA president #abed #abBudget2021 #AbLeg

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) February 25, 2021

“We are seeing that instructional costs are down roughly $27 million,” Schilling said. “We need to make sure we have a budget that’s going to be maintained last year into this year, we know that school boards are struggling with budgets that came down last year to meet the needs of their students.”

"It's difficult for school boards to make plans when they don't have the funding manual." -Jason Schilling, ATA president #abed #abBudget2021 #AbLeg

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) February 25, 2021

Schilling also raised concerns with the fact that the ATA will not see any funding manuals that school boards will receive until the end of March, which he says is like “coming to class without your homework done.”

He says the government needs to provide more specific details about the funding manual and how it’s going to affect the next fiscal school year.