National

Surrey schools face double-decker portables, program cuts, says Falcon, school board

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Apr, 2023 05:21 PM

Opposition BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says the New Democrat government has failed to deliver on its promise from 2017 to eliminate portables at Surrey, B.C., schools.

Six years ago, the NDP promised to eliminate school portables in Surrey. Since then, Eby has failed to take action.

Now, BC's largest school district is looking at double-decker portables to address student overcrowding...

BC students deserve better.https://t.co/EahZMnoHmW
— Kevin Falcon (@KevinFalcon) April 26, 2023

Falcon told the Legislature Wednesday that instead of removing school portables, the numbers have doubled in six years of NDP government and some schools are now considering placing portables on top of each other, creating "double-decker portables."

He cited a letter Surrey's school board sent to Education Minister Rachna Singh this week saying population growth is exploding in the area and the government has fallen behind on building new schools.

The letter says the district is now looking to buy 30 new portables for next school year and is also preparing to move 39 other portables to manage projected enrolment growth.

Premier David Eby says the government is committed to providing safe learning environments and has opened 10,000 new spaces for students through 16 new schools or additions that are complete or underway across Surrey.

The Surrey school board letter to the education minister says meetings with Surrey New Democrat members of the legislature, including Surrey cabinet ministers Bruce Ralston, Harry Bains and Jagrup Brar, have not yielded enough funding to meet population growth levels.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi at SFU damaged in vandalism act: Burnaby RCMP

The Mounties were contacted around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, after someone noticed the statue had been vandalized, with the head having been removed. It is not yet known when the vandalism happened. It’s believed a power tool was likely used.

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi at SFU damaged in vandalism act: Burnaby RCMP

Democrats, GOP spar over Canada-U.S. border

In a subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill, House Republicans fanned the flames of an emerging fire-and-brimstone narrative about a "metastasizing crisis" of irregular migration along the world's longest international frontier.

Democrats, GOP spar over Canada-U.S. border

Federal budget includes $59.5B in new spending

To alleviate the pressure of rising grocery prices, the federal government has extended the GST rebate boost offered in the fall. The rebate, which will go to lower income Canadians, will deliver up to $234 to a single person and up to $467 to a couple with two children.

Federal budget includes $59.5B in new spending

Dental program cost set to more than double

That benefit will be scrapped by June 2024. In its place, Tuesday's budget shows the Liberals are planning a government-administered insurance program, at a cost of $13 billion over five years beginning in fiscal year 2023-24.

Dental program cost set to more than double

B.C. councillor resigns, called mayor 'Mr. Hitler'

At a March 20 meeting, Smyth took issue with a decision not to livestream advisory committee meetings about an official community plan or release committee members' CVs. Smyth said the move was done in a "very political way," something that was denied by Mayor Peter Jones who said it was a "practical approach" before ending questions.

B.C. councillor resigns, called mayor 'Mr. Hitler'

B.C. to secure access to drug of social media fame

Adrian Dix said in January that the government would be investigating why almost 10 per cent of prescriptions for the drug in B.C. were filled for American citizens. Dix said at the time that the dramatic increase in demand for the diabetes drug was partly because of social media "influencers" who spoke about its weight loss benefits.