Federal Funding Must Be Used to Make Class Sizes Smaller: NDP

Saskatchewan NDP Education Critic Carla Beck welcomed a federal announcement bailing out the Sask. Party for their refusal to commit adequate funding to a safe school reopening, and called on the Sask. Party government to rapidly allocate that funding to making class sizes smaller in order to ensure a safe return to schools and minimize the risk of outbreaks.

“Despite having months to get the return-to-school plan right, Scott Moe and Gord Wyant kept insisting that no additional funding would be necessary to make schools safer for our kids during a pandemic – to the extent that they waited until far too late to even allocate funding from their own contingency fund. Despite the concerns raised by families, educators, and medical professionals, they did nothing to address class size as crucial weeks passed,” said Beck.

“Today, Education Minister Gord Wyant has finally acknowledged that COVID-19 means additional costs for schools. He has been handed a lifeline for his failed back to school plan, but the clock is ticking – he must not let Saskatchewan families down again.”

Saskatchewan will receive $74.9 million – almost double the $40 million that the Premier allocated from the $200 million contingency fund only after extensive public outrage forced his hand.

“The Premier and Education Minister’s slow-mo, status-quo approach has left parents feeling betrayed, stressed and frustrated. Our classrooms are too crowded now because they were too crowded before,” said Beck. “School divisions still aren’t sure what, if any, additional funding they will receive, or if the government will in fact claw back funding at the end of September if enrolment declines due to COVID-19. We can’t be satisfied with the status quo. We must demand better, and that means a real plan to put this additional federal funding to work where it counts.”

Latest posts

BECK PLEDGES BETTER WAGES, LOWER COST OF LIVING TO RETAIL WORKERS

Leader Delivers Address At Convention In Humboldt, Calls Workers The ‘Backbone Of Saskatchewan Economy’

HUMBOLDT - Carla Beck told delegates at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Convention Wednesday that they “deserve a damn raise” a government laser-focused on making life more affordable in Saskatchewan, and that a Saskatchewan NDP government would put working people first by strengthening labour rights, raising wages and tackling the rising cost of living.

SCOTT MOE’S MLAS BLOCKS EFFORTS TO GET TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE $26 BILLION COAL CATASTROPHE

Sask. Party Blocks Motion Calling for Provincial Auditor Investigation Into Coal Cost Overruns — Ten Times What Was Publicly Reported

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and the Sask. Party for once again refusing to come clean about their $26-billion coal catastrophe after government members blocked a motion Thursday at the Public Accounts Committee requesting an independent investigation by the Provincial Auditor.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR HALT TO CHILDCARE FUNDING CHANGE THAT WILL HAMMER RURAL COMMUNITIES, PUT PARENTS OUT OF WORK

In One Month, Funding Will Be Cut For Children Attending Childcare Part-Time, Or As Casuals
REGINA – Carla Beck and her team are joining rural childcare advocates to call on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to fix their broken childcare deal.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM DEMANDS ACTION TO MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, CRACKDOWN ON GANGS IN WAKE OF SHOOTINGS IN NORTH

Pelican Narrows Community Leaders Have Been Beggin Scott Moe For Support For Years

SASKATOON – Days after the tragic events in Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Carla Beck’s team is demanding that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party stop ignoring the needs of Northern Saskatchewan and step up to support the communities dealing with a flood of poisonous drugs, rampant gang activity and constant crime.

NDP Caucus Office