UCP advanced education cuts hammer Vermilion and Lloydminster

VERMILION – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has learned the United Conservative Party (UCP) government has forced $15 million in cuts on Lakeland College, resulting in over 35 job losses and the suspension of five trade-focussed programs.

These losses, which are part of province-wide cuts the UCP government is inflicting on post-secondary institutions, will have devastating effects on Vermilion, Lloydminster and the surrounding rural communities.

“Premier Kenney says his government is all about creating jobs, but again and again he shows Albertans his real agenda is to the contrary,” says AUPE Vice-President Mike Dempsey.

35 permanent positions have been abolished at the Vermilion campus, including 14 AUPE members. Many more temporary and contract positions have been eliminated as well.

The five suspended programs are:

• Gasfitter-Class A;
• Steamfitter-pipefitter;
• Instrumentation and control technician;
• Pre-employment instrumentation and control technician, and;
• Street rod technologies.

“Almost all of these suspended trade programs are directly related to oil and gas, which is a hugely important industry for Vermilion, Lloydminster and the surrounding region,” says Dempsey.

“Premier Kenney keeps saying he wants to support industry workers, but cuts like this hurt ordinary rural Albertans while other decisions, like his $4.7 billion corporate tax giveaway, only help the rich and powerful elites.

“Why is the government putting Albertans out of work in the middle of both a pandemic and a recession? If supporting students and post-secondary workers were a college course, the UCP would get a failing grade.”

AUPE is western Canada’s largest union, standing 95,000 members strong.

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Vice-President Dempsey is available for interviews.

Please contact: Alexander Delorme, AUPE communications, 780-264-9274