Editor:
I am truly disappointed in our provincial government.
As a taxpayer, I truly believe the government had time over the summer to complete a deal with the teachers. This lack of resolution has nothing to do with affordability. It has to do with saving money by stealing money from family incomes. I thought the Liberal campaign was families first.
With one week away from the start of school, as a parent of two high school students, I am very angry that the Minister of Education is spending time with the media (during a mediation black out) talking about the $40 per child in elementary school. What about the teenagers? Grade 10 has provincial exams and these students cannot afford a late start-up. New Grade 8s need time to adjust to high school and a smooth start-up.
I am tired of the lack of effort on the part of the Liberal government. Locking out teachers and then expecting them to work for free during the day is disrespectful. Instead of sending a lockout letter, I think you could put your efforts into settling wages and offering a reasonable resolution to the class size and composition problem, and number of specialist teachers.
Teachers want to be back to work in September, but it appears this government is trying its hardest to make sure that does not happen. People do not have to choose sides in this issue to let the government know this has gone on too long. Our children are suffering and this is not acceptable. Please email your MLA, Peter Fassbender and Christy Clark with these simple words: stop stalling and get our kids in school.
Susan Mearns, Gibsons
