In 2021, the latest edition of the Fraser Institute’s multi-year report, “Education Costs in Canada Public Schools,” was published. “All Canadian K-12 teachers who are committed to public policy from coast to coast know what they can expect as normal compensation from one of our more conservative and value-conscious think tanks. Few question the desirability of inclusive education for students with learning disabilities and general elementary education for four-year-olds, and these costs are negligible when you consider the true factors behind the recent extraordinary increases in educational spending in Nova Scotia, all in the form of pensions, benefits and outsourced services. According to the Fraser Institute’s 2021 report, total spending on public schools in Nova Scotia increased 19.0% from 2013-14 to 2017-18 to $1.7 billion, an increase of $279 million. In Nova Scotia, as in many other provinces, spending on public education and student achievement as measured by international, national and provincial tests has stagnated or declined slightly. Increased spending on public education does not translate into improved student achievement. In the case of the Maritimes, spending has increased while student enrollment has declined over the past five years. Prior research had been done before we received reports from the Fraser Institute pointing to the illogicality of public education spending. A year ago, the Fraser Institute’s report on education spending through 2020 was basically a yawn because it beats the same old drums. Conservative companies and government agencies tend to “scream bad” when they interfere with regular increases in government spending, especially on K-12 education. Look at the Fraser Institute reports and you can almost hear education ministers, principals and teachers in the province whispering something likelies, damned lies and statistics. “‘ This is a rather sarcastic commentary on the persuasive power of statistics, especially those used to present or defend weak claims and arguments. “Canada has increased spending on education in public schools above the level needed to track enrollment and price trends. In 2017-18, things began to happen that changed the path of education spending in Nova Scotia and, to a lesser extent, New Brunswick. What’s really new in Nova Scotia is the recent spending on education. That would be a mistake, given the recent increase in education spending in Nova Scotia, which began before we were all affected by the pandemic. It would be tempting to reject the Fraser Institute report on education spending in 2021 for similar reasons. Public school spending increased by 9.2% per pupil in the five-year period from 2012 to 2016-17, while enrollment in the maritime provinces dropped slightly, from 2% to 3%.