November 7, 2025
Prabh Sandhu
Calgary-Bhullar-McCall NDP MLA Irfan Sabir is questioning the United Conservative government’s recent decisions on education policy, advertising spending and a speech he says doesn’t reflect the priorities of Albertans.
Appearing Friday on RED FM’s morning show, Sabir criticized what he called the UCP’s “misplaced priorities” — including a proposed back-to-school law, the province’s “Alberta is Calling” advertising campaign and remarks by former education minister Jen Thorne.
Sabir said the government’s proposed education legislation appears rushed and lacks meaningful input from teachers, parents and school communities.
He argued that the province should be focused on reducing class sizes and improving supports for students and staff instead of “headline-driven” policy changes.
“The government keeps talking about supporting education, but we’re not seeing that in classrooms,” Sabir said during the interview. “Families want smaller class sizes, better mental-health supports and more teachers, not more slogans.”
Sabir also criticized the province’s “Alberta is Calling” advertising campaign, saying taxpayer money is being used to promote political messaging rather than improving services.
“When you spend millions attracting workers, then complain too many have come, it shows poor planning,” Sabir said.
The NDP MLA further took aim at a recent speech from Thorne, saying her remarks did not reflect the challenges facing Alberta families. He said the government is focusing on political messaging rather than addressing issues such as affordability, education funding and health-care access.
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