In response to the minister of education鈥檚 continued听听to release a breakdown of the cost of fixing Saskatchewan鈥檚 crumbling schools, NDP Education Critic Carla Beck听 (Sept 11)听with two demands of the Sask. Party government: to comply with the Information and Privacy Commissioner鈥檚 recommendation and release the basic information that had been requested and to finally grant the Information and Privacy Commissioner the power to compel public bodies to release documents.听
鈥淥ur schools are crumbling because, for years, the Sask. Party has let the infrastructure deficit balloon. Instead of laying out a clear plan to fix our schools, they鈥檙e refusing to provide information on needed repairs in each division, even though the Information and Privacy Commissioner has told them to, because they don鈥檛 want the public to know about it,鈥� said Beck. 鈥淭his arrogant ducking of responsibility is unacceptable. Saskatchewan educators and students deserve better. Parents, teachers and students have a right to know the condition of our kids鈥� schools and Saskatchewan people deserve a government that will make the investments we need now, instead of more Sask. Party cuts and austerity.鈥澨�
Beck slammed the education minister not just for what she called his 鈥渉eavy-handed attempts to leave the public in the dark,鈥� but for听听on the funding made available for school reopening.
The minister鈥檚 announcement this week only met half the costs divisions identified,听, included听听补苍诲听.听听
鈥淕ord Wyant keeps fudging the numbers, re-announcing previously announced funding as if it鈥檚 new and dressing up existing positions as new positions,鈥� said Beck. 鈥淗e鈥檚 responsible for introducing the worst back-to-school plan in Canada and every time people come looking for answers, he just keeps pointing fingers instead of taking responsibility and fixing the problem.鈥�
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