School districts in Vancouver, Mission, Greater Victoria, Kootenays and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows recently learned that their applications for capital funding had been rejected by the Department of Education. The money was requested for the construction of new schools and the seismic upgrade of buildings that are in danger of collapsing due to an earthquake. At the same time, critics point to the BC NDP’s recent announcement of a seismically safe reconstruction of the nearly $ 800 million BC Royal Museum in Victoria. While the government insists the museum’s investment has not raised money to fund school projects, the outlook does not suit parents, school committees and opposition parties. “Spending a billion dollars on a brand new BC Royal Museum that no one wanted, and building schools already promised to parents and teachers, is unacceptable,” said Kevin Falcon. Falcon says Prime Minister John Horgan is using the costs associated with last year’s fires and floods as an excuse to freeze school spending, despite proceeding with a “museum project for fans”. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau said families were frustrated by the government’s spending priorities. More than 4,000 students attend seismically hazardous schools 3 high risk seismic projects have been postponed. The https://t.co/1cA2xi3vZp & mdash; @SoniaFurstenau But the provincial government denies these allegations.
Museum, school funding unrelated: NDP
Both Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Tourism Minister Melanie Mark have argued that investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the museum does not mean the government has raised money to fund schools. “The two are not really connected,” Whiteside told CBC’s On The Island. “The museum’s work represents … less than one percent of the capital budget for this year.” He said the NDP has spent $ 2.7 billion over the past four years opening new schools and carrying out seismic upgrades. He says the province has pledged to spend just over $ 3 billion over the next three years to continue this important project. On the island 9:21 BC Education Secretary Jennifer Whiteside on school seismic upgrades Faced with criticism about the replacement project of the Royal Museum of BC. $ 789, the provincial government is now facing questions about the delayed redevelopment of some schools. Gregor Craigie asked Education Secretary Jennifer Whiteside what was behind the delays. But that’s a small consolation for those who have recently turned down funding. Tracy Loffler, chair of the Mission School District board, says the district has been waiting 15 years for a new high school and now they will have to wait indefinitely. In the 2020 provincial elections, the NDP promised to replace the École Mission Senior Secondary, but the project was postponed.
“Uncertainty ignites anger”
Lofler says the current school, built in the 1950s, is nearing the end of its life and has a capacity of about 1,300 students. The board will now have to submit another business case to the county for a new construction. “Uncertainty fuels this anger that exists in the community right now,” Loffler told CBC’s On The Coast.
title: “Lack Of Funding For New Bc Schools Seismic Upgrades Have Led Critics To Question Government Priorities " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-12” author: “Don Breece”
School districts in Vancouver, Mission, Greater Victoria, Kootenays and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows recently learned that their applications for capital funding had been rejected by the Department of Education. The money was requested for the construction of new schools and the seismic upgrade of buildings that are in danger of collapsing due to an earthquake. At the same time, critics point to the BC NDP’s recent announcement of a seismically safe reconstruction of the nearly $ 800 million BC Royal Museum in Victoria. While the government insists the museum’s investment has not raised money for school funding, the outlook does not suit parents, school committees and opposition parties. “Spending a billion dollars on a brand new BC Royal Museum that no one wanted, and building schools already promised to parents and teachers, is unacceptable,” said Kevin Falcon. Falcon says Prime Minister John Horgan is using the costs associated with last year’s fires and floods as an excuse to freeze school spending, despite proceeding with a “museum project for fans”. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau said families were frustrated by the government’s spending priorities. More than 4,000 students attend seismically hazardous schools 3 high risk seismic projects have been postponed. The https://t.co/1cA2xi3vZp & mdash; @SoniaFurstenau But the provincial government denies these allegations.
Museum, school funding unrelated: NDP
Both Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Tourism Minister Melanie Mark have argued that investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the museum does not mean the government has raised money to fund schools. “The two are not really connected,” Whiteside told CBC’s On The Island. “The museum’s work represents … less than one percent of the capital budget for this year.” He said the NDP has spent $ 2.7 billion over the past four years opening new schools and carrying out seismic upgrades. He says the province has pledged to spend just over $ 3 billion over the next three years to continue this important project. On the island 9:21 BC Education Secretary Jennifer Whiteside on school seismic upgrades Faced with criticism about the replacement project of the Royal Museum of BC. $ 789, the provincial government is now facing questions about the delayed redevelopment of some schools. Gregor Craigie asked Education Secretary Jennifer Whiteside what was behind the delays. But that’s a small consolation for those who have recently turned down funding. Tracy Loffler, chair of the Mission School District board, says the district has been waiting 15 years for a new high school and now they will have to wait indefinitely. In the 2020 provincial elections, the NDP promised to replace the École Mission Senior Secondary, but the project was postponed.
“Uncertainty ignites anger”
Lofler says the current school, built in the 1950s, is nearing the end of its life and has a capacity of about 1,300 students. The board will now have to submit another business case to the county for a new construction. “Uncertainty fuels this anger that exists in the community right now,” Loffler told CBC’s On The Coast.
