SASKATOON - Today, Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck and Education Critic Matt Love responded to the shocking allegations of abuse at Legacy Christian Academy and called on the Sask. Party government to freeze the school’s provincial funding and reform the oversight of Qualified Independent Schools.
“These are incredibly disturbing allegations. Outwardly anti-LGBTQ2S+ sentiments and violent discipline have no place in our schools,” said Beck. “It’s frankly unacceptable that the Sask. Party feigned ignorance about the alleged culture of abuse at Legacy Christian Academy despite having received shocking complaints from former students. The government should have immediately launched an investigation knowing that the safety and wellbeing of students could be compromised.”
Eighteen former students have already come forward with allegations of physical and psychological abuse. An email exchange between a former student and Education Minister Dustin Duncan's assistant indicates that the minister’s office was aware of the allegations despite claiming earlier this week that they had “not received any complaints regarding LCA since funding for Qualified Independent Schools (QIS) began in 2012”.
“The public education system is being cut to the bone while the Sask. Party is ramping up public spending on Qualified Independent Schools,” said Love. “If the Sask. Party is going to increase investment into this school category, they should at least be ensuring these institutions should at bare minimum uphold the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.”
The Official Opposition calls for an independent investigation into alleged abuse and mistreatment at Legacy Christian Academy, freeze funding to the school, and bolster the oversight of Qualified Independent Schools.
-30-
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.