Premier's office interference warrants investigation, says NDP

Minutes Show Campbell Gov't Chose Schools to Benefit from $30 Million Program
VANCOUVER - School board minutes show that the premier's office interfered by choosing schools in Campbell's own riding to benefit over and above the many other high risk schools in need of seismic upgrades under a new $30 million program.

"It appears the Premier is playing politics with a critical student safety issue and shows once again that the Campbell government is completely out of touch with what is happening in B.C. schools," said NDP education critic Norm Macdonald.

While Education Minister Shirley Bond continues to deny that schools in Gordon Campbell's Vancouver riding got special treatment under the new program, a copy of the Vancouver Board of Education's June 16 minutes show that the Board was surprised by the government's choice.

The minutes state "with regards to the community hub project referenced from the Premier's Office, a decision to proceed with developing certain sites was made and the public was informed before staff were able to advise the Board."

"Two out of three schools chosen to benefit from the Neighborhoods of Learning project were in the Premier's own riding of Vancouver-Point Grey," said Macdonald. "Queen Mary and General Gordon can finally move forward with their upgrades, but I have to question how this government thinks it is OK to play politics with something as vitally important as student safety."

The Neighborhoods of Learning is a $30 million pilot project that will create community learning hubs that offer learning space as well as space for other community needs, such as after school programs. Five heritage schools (two schools in rural areas have yet to be chosen) will be exempt from provincial rules for seismic upgrades which favour the construction of smaller schools rather than more expensive upgrades to larger old schools.