Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux is outraged over the NDP’s failed promise to deliver universally accessible playgrounds.
“Although playgrounds have been built, and while they are a slight improvement, it would be a significant exaggeration in many cases to say they are universally accessible,” says Cadieux. “Kids with disabilities are still on the sidelines.”
An average universally accessible playground can cost in excess of $250,000, yet the government has announced only $105,000 maximum per playground, which begs the question how the government thought it could deliver on the promise in the first place.
“The fault lies with John Horgan and the NDP,” concludes Cadieux. “This isn’t about blaming the hardworking parents or staff involved in planning for playgrounds, I am critical of the province for not setting criteria and not providing adequate funds to do the job. Students were promised universally accessible playgrounds and that is not what they have received.”
This is another opportunity to raise the importance of inclusion and educate people about how to get it right. Build it right or don’t build it at all.