Thoughts on BC Politics and More

A judge has ordered the province to hand over written records that were considered by Education Minister Lisa Beare before she decided to terminate Greater Victoria School Board trustees in January in a bid by the trustees for a review of their termination. The fired trustees have filed a petition in BCC. Supreme Court for a judicial review of the termination, which followed a dispute that stemmed from the board’s May 2023 decision to cancel the school police liaison program. The decision handed down Wednesday comes after lawyers for the trustees argued in court in August for access to government documents related to the education minister’s decision to terminate the board ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

As parents get ready to ante up for school supplies and fees, a “transformative” government fund aimed at reducing such costs for vulnerable families has quietly evaporated. The program, called the Student and Family Affordability Fund, had been created in 2022 to help students with costly expenses, like school supplies and class trips. Although initially billed as a one-time fund, it was renewed last year with $20 million given to school districts to help families struggling with school-related expenses. Government and school officials trumpeted the fund’s importance at the time. In March 2024, Langford-Juan de Fuca NDP MLA Ravi Parmar called the fund “transformative” for schools in his district. “ I am eager to see how schools will further utilize this expanded funding to help our kids be the best they can be ”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Members of the fired Greater Victoria School Board have filed a petition with B.C. Supreme Court calling for reinstatement in the wake of their January dismissal by Education Minister Lisa Beare. The court filing says Beare supported a school police-liaison program in the district while the board did not, saying it favoured a version of the program that would give “ultimate oversight” to the board. The petition said Beare conducted a “swift and secret governance review” of the board before deciding on dismissal “based on a myriad of vague allegations which were never put to the board for response" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

When the British Columbia government fired the Greater Victoria School Board last week, it effectively made police liaison programs mandatory in schools while failing to provide a factual basis for the decision, the BC Human Rights commissioner said in a letter. Kasari Govender said in the letter to Education Minister Lisa Beare, and Public Safety Minister Garry Begg, that failure to fund research into the matter is contrary to the government's human rights obligations "and undermines its stated values to combat racism." The letter dated Monday came after Beare fired the entire elected board of School District No. 61 last Thursday over its refusal to allow police in schools except in emergencies ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... finally, there was a devastating critique by the chiefs of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. They revealed the board has been treating them with the same indifferent disdain that it has for everyone else who is concerned about the decision. “The board has failed repeatedly to listen from a place of humility, openness and mutual respect,” wrote the chiefs, citing the fact an experienced, trusted Indigenous liaison RCMP officer has been pulled from schools. Those are some of the elements that led Education Minister Lisa Beare to put the Greater Victoria School District’s board of education on notice Friday ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Right out of the gate, it will be Minister Beare’s task to work on Premier David Eby’s election promises for public education, including the promise of a mental-health counsellor in every school ... At last count, there were 1,586 active public schools and 364 active independent schools in B.C., with 577,024 students in public schools and 86,201 in independent schools ... ... Newly appointed Education Minister Lisa Beare faces a formidable task, the demands of which far exceed any of her previous organizational or political experience as a school trustee, minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and minister of Citizens’ Services ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Over the past few months, I have heard clearly how COVID-19 is devastating the vi sitor economy (tourism sector) in British Columbia. I know the provincial government has heard the same messages. I ’ve shared documentation from business leaders outlining the desperate situation of the industry in British Columbia and the immediate and long-term needs. Hotels, restaurants, attractions are shuttered, business owners are on the brink of bankruptcy and hundreds of thousands of workers in the tourism industry are unemployed. For many small tourism businesses, this isn’t just a job but a livelihood, lifestyle and way to raise a family, all of which are currently in jeopardy. Tourism contributes $8.9 billion to our provincial GDP and employs 161,500 people in every corner of our province, or it did last year. To-date the provincial government has offered little to the struggling tourism sector and lack a clear vision to revitalize a sustainable visitor economy. Industry leaders we...

Yesterday I asked the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture if the provincial government has a strategic, sector specific plan to support BC's tourism sector. Tourism operators across the province have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and a large increase in local tourism will not make up lost revenue.   [Transcript] GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY   A. Olsen: The cruise season is cancelled. The borders remain closed, and international travel will be limited for the foreseeable future. The B.C. government is encouraging summer staycations to support the tourism sector devastated by COVID-19. People should get out and explore our beautiful province, as long as they follow the provincial health guidelines and restrictions and restrictions posted by First Nations.   However, the situation is bleak. One in five tourism businesses face bankruptcy. A report from Destination B.C. titled Value of Tourism: 2007 to 2017 shows that as of 2017, Br...