Will full-day kindergarten escape the axe as government ponders spring budget?

The province of Alberta is shelving plans to begin full-day kindergarten in September because of plunging oil prices, and the resulting financial constraints.

The decision by oil-rich Alberta raises an obvious question in this province: Will the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, which has promised to implement all-day, five-day-a-week kindergarten in September 2016, do the same?

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While Education Minister Susan Sullivan declined an interview, a statement emailed to CBC News suggests the previous time frame is no longer a certainty.

"All items are under consideration," the statement read, and "no decisions have been made at this time."

However, the president of the province's English school district says plans are moving forward for a 2016 launch of full-day kindergarten programs.

The provincial government is preparing its 2015-16 budget, which is expected to be announced this spring, and Finance Minister Ross Wiseman has already stated there will be a "critical analysis" of all expenses.

The belt-tightening follows a dramatic drop in worldwide oil prices, which is expected to cost the provincial treasury some $700-million in royalties this fiscal year.

Plans moving ahead for 2016

Analysts are saying the slump could last for several years, forcing oil-dependent provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador to reduce spending, look at creative ways to increase revenues, and rely more on borrowing.

But Darrin Pike, CEO of the English School District of Newfoundland and Labrador, said plans for full-day kindergarten are "full steam ahead," as far as the board is concerned.

"I suspect if you ask government … about any of the programs now, given the current fiscal situation the province finds itself, that would be the answer — that everything's under review. But from our perspective for full-day kindergarten, there's been nothing indicated to us," said Pike.

"We're still proceeding with plans for 2016, working well with the government officials on that, so there's been no indication from our perspective that anything's changed. It's full-steam ahead."

Former finance minister Charlene Johnson announced in March 2014 the province would introduce full-day kindergarten in 2016.

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The announcement was applauded by many parents and experts in the field of education.

'I wouldn't panic'

The province is spending more than $30 million to add classrooms and other infrastructure to schools, and the ongoing costs of full-day kindergarten is estimated at $13 million annually.

We're proceeding with our plans and getting ready for it, so the comfort is that the district is still proceeding. We haven't paused, we haven't slowed down, we're not hesitating in the work that we're asking staff do to.- Darrin Pike, CEO of province's English school district

Pike said while the school district is aware of the current fiscal climate in the province, government remains committed to implementing full-day kindergarten, but there may be some impact on the timing of the program.

"I wouldn't panic — there's nothing here to indicate there's a change in thought. We're proceeding with our plans and getting ready for it, so the comfort is that the district is still proceeding," said Pike.

"We haven't paused, we haven't slowed down, we're not hesitating in the work that we're asking staff do to. We're still extremely busy getting ready for 2016."

In Alberta, a forecasted deficit this year of $500 million — down from a $1.5-billion surplus in November — appears to have derailed plans for full-day kindergarten, with Alberta Premier Jim Prentice calling it "the most serious fiscal circumstance we've seen in a generation in this province."

The situation is even more dire in this province, where the deficit is expected to top $900 million, and the government spends almost 50 per cent more per person on government services than the Canadian average.