alex d.
@alexdacosta.bsky.social
120 followers 180 following 90 posts
Sociology of Education | Cultural Studies | Anti-Racism | Professor at UAlberta Faculty of Education | amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) #PolicingFreeSchools Free Palestine
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Reposted by alex d.
We have a teachers strike, high unemployment, economic losses from separation conversations but license plates that say strong and free are the priority. Cool. Cool. #abpoli #ableg
Reposted by alex d.
When asked about the UCP's statement on the last offer by the ATA which said teachers need to expect a deal that is "rooted in reality"...

ATA President Jason Schilling held very little back in his response.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli #abed
Reposted by alex d.
Reposted by alex d.
When the Alberta government claims that deaths from the toxic drug crisis are decreasing or stabilizing, take a look at this graph — it tells a very different story.

Involuntary care won’t fix this.
Compassion, harm reduction, on-demand voluntary treatment options, and real supports will.
Alt text:
Bar chart showing the monthly counts of drug poisoning deaths in Alberta from January 2016 to June 2025. The chart shows a steady increase over time, with deaths rising sharply around mid-2020 and peaking in several months between 2021 and 2025, reaching highs around 80–90 deaths per month.
I'm quoted here re: neoliberal project of education & public services privatization + how this happens bit by bit.

Not quoted, but I also mentioned role played by choice, charter + private schools, devaluing teacher labor, + undermining unions.
#abed #abpoli

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Private-school funding question approved amid Alberta teachers' strike
"Should the Government of Alberta end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools?"
edmontonjournal.com
Reposted by alex d.
Between Edmonton Police interfering in an ongoing case and Calgary Police endorsing political candidates, we’re seeing law enforcement in this province cross lines that will only erode the public’s trust in their activities. You should also not vote for any politician who believes this is ok.
Calgary Police Association endorses Communities First party, Sharp for mayor
The union representing more than 2,300 police officers in Calgary is throwing its support behind the Communities First party for the upcoming municipal election.
www.ctvnews.ca
#ucp will wait out this strike to turn parents & the public against #alberta teachers.

They will not address the issues underfunding of education is causing. They will deflect & gaslight until they divide us.

They run politics on anger, fear, & lies. Not what’s good for people.
#abed #abpoli
Reposted by alex d.
"Something I have noticed after writing hundreds of articles on collective agreements is that public sector workers in Alberta have, over the last decade, seen years of wage freezes and below inflation wage increases."
Today’s news story from @kimsiever.bsky.social

Alberta public sector wages falling behind

A recent survey showed that some public sector workers cannot make their monthly bill payments and have had to cut back on childcare and transportation expenses.

albertaworker.ca/news/alberta...
Alberta public sector wages falling behind
A recent survey showed that some public sector workers cannot make their monthly bill payments and have had to cut back on childcare and transportation expenses.
albertaworker.ca
Reposted by alex d.
Premier Smith acknowledges that maximum classroom sizes were not on the table in negotiations. That is something that I have heard from many teachers they want as part of the negotiations.

Smith said the government doesn't want caps for maximum flexibility.
Reposted by alex d.
Keen to support Alberta Teachers?
Because they're putting it all on the line for OUR kids!

Here's how:

teachers.ab.ca/bargaining-n...

#abed #albertateachers #pubed #yeg #yyc #ATA
Community support information | Alberta Teachers' Association
Information for parents and public supporting Alberta teachers
teachers.ab.ca
I don’t want $30 a day per child, I want a well-funded and thriving education system with well paid teachers and properly staffed schools.

#abed #abpoli #Alberta
The UCP accidentally posted their master plan for the teachers strike ahead of Smith’s presser.

$30 a DAY for kids under 12 starting at the end of October.

That’s it.

Imagine if they had just increased per student funding by $6000 a year per student?

#abpoli #abed #cdnpoli
The party of “protecting children” reveals what type of parental rights they have in mind: control, silencing, and punishment.
At tonight’s “consultation”…

When a high school kid tried to raise concerns about the teachers strike, Bruce McAllister cut the kids mic and then suggested his parents should have beaten him more.

Listen to the clip yourself…

It’s…

Telling.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
The party of “protecting children” reveals what type of parental rights they have in mind: control, silencing, and punishment.
Here is a brave high school student *attempting* to ask a questions at the South Calgary Town Hall (separatist venting session). Before he even gets to his question or point, HIS MIC IS CUT OFF and Bruce McAllister suggests he should be spanked. #ableg #abpoli

www.youtube.com/live/Tk0p5_8...
Alberta Next: South Calgary Town Hall
YouTube video by Danielle Smith
www.youtube.com
Complying in advance to fascist politics is not a good way to protect academic freedom, nor is it a good way to support those who do the hard work day in and day out to create an equitable world.
"By placing me on leave, the University implicitly condoned and supported the targeted harassment of progressive academics across the United States and Canada for expressing a wide range of views critical of Charlie Kirk as part of a large-scale effort to have them terminated."
#UAlberta
That privatization is cheaper and more efficient may be one of the biggest swindles of the last 50 years.
It’s a wealth transfer upwards.

#neoliberalism #abpoli #ableg
Danielle Smith told us privatization would “save money” and “fix wait times.”
Yet: Albertans are paying double.

Hip Replacement
Public ~$4,000
Private ~$8,300

Knee Replacement
Public: ~$5,000
Private: ~$9,000

By @lindawalkerwrites.bsky.social #ABpoli
lindawalkerwrites.substack.com/p/p3-youve-b...
Graph showing the differences and cost of surgeries in private and public facilities. Number is quoted in post, except shoulder surgery, also included in the graph.
In all instances the green bar graph showing cost in public facilities, is half the size of the orange graph showing private facility cost.
Reposted by alex d.
Danielle Smith told us privatization would “save money” and “fix wait times.”
Yet: Albertans are paying double.

Hip Replacement
Public ~$4,000
Private ~$8,300

Knee Replacement
Public: ~$5,000
Private: ~$9,000

By @lindawalkerwrites.bsky.social #ABpoli
lindawalkerwrites.substack.com/p/p3-youve-b...
Graph showing the differences and cost of surgeries in private and public facilities. Number is quoted in post, except shoulder surgery, also included in the graph.
In all instances the green bar graph showing cost in public facilities, is half the size of the orange graph showing private facility cost.
Very concerning, given transphobia/gender policing, "law and order" discourse, immigrant-blaming, resource extraction, protests + free speech on campuses and beyond, corruption, etc

Yet many keep helping to expand police power.

People need to connect the dots as to where this is heading.
Reposted by alex d.
Danielle Smith and the UCP are willing to give insurance companies more than double the raise in one year that they’re willing to give teachers in one year.

(Plus even good drivers will see a 7.5% increase on their insurance)

Telling.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli #abed
Thinking of Dave Chappelle’s joke about how peculiar it was that cops always found crack on black victims in the 80s: “sprinkle some crack on him. Open and shut case, Johnson!”

Now FBI is like: “sprinkle some bullets engraved with woke messages. Open and shut case: it’s the radical left.”