A Fraser Institute study shows education spending on public schools across Canada increased over the most recent five-year period of available data.

The study also shows that the spending increase went far beyond what was required to account for enrolment changes and inflation.

But most of the growth in spending didn’t go to help the kids; the study indicates it went to line the pockets of paid staff through salaries, wages, fringe benefits, and pensions.

The study examines changes in education spending on public schools in Canada from 2014/15 to 2018/19. It takes into account the effects of enrollment and inflation. Enrolment in public schools increased by 3.2 per cent nationally during the period. Alberta, at 7.7 per cent, and Saskatchewan, at 5.5 per cent saw the most significant increases in enrolment. The study says, per-student spending saw an increase of 2.6 per cent nationally.  But three provinces experienced a decline in real per-student spending: Newfoundland & Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

When capital expenditure is removed, Canada’s per-student, inflation-adjusted spending increased by 1.7 per cent. But not here. In Saskatchewan, The Sask. Party government decreased spending by nearly six per cent. The study says that, in all provinces except Newfoundland & Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, total spending exceeded the amount necessary to account for enrolment and inflation changes.