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

B.C. cautious but encouraged by bail reform moves

British Columbia's attorney general says the province is treading carefully to ensure the overincarceration of Indigenous people and other racialized groups is not made worse by proposed federal changes to the bail system.

B.C. cautious but encouraged by bail reform moves

Canada on sidelines as allies move ahead on AUKUS

That includes formalizing American and British plans to help Australia develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in response to growing concerns about China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Canada on sidelines as allies move ahead on AUKUS

Eight skunks found dead in B.C. had avian flu

British Columbia's Ministry of Agriculture says the skunks were infected with the same H5N1 strain that has caused the deaths of millions of domestic poultry since the outbreak began in April last year. The skunks were found in residential areas in both cities and were taken to B.C.'s Animal Health Centre over concerns they may have been deliberately poisoned.

Eight skunks found dead in B.C. had avian flu

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

A report from the board says four of the five people aboard the Rocky Pass were injured when the boat came to an abrupt stop on the rocks on Jan. 25, 2022. The operator, who had 20 years of experience captaining the taxi, was using GPS in very foggy conditions when the navigation device froze.

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire

According to Mounties, one residence in the area was hit by gunfire. The residence was occupied at the time of the incident but no gunshot injuries occurred. The victims are cooperating with the police investigation.

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire

Dead body of a woman found inside a tent in the Downtown Eastside

The cause of death remains under investigation. Evidence indicates the woman died prior to the fire starting. Vancouver Police are working with the BC Coroners Service to identify the woman.