The provincial election is happening on Oct. 19 and Black Press sent five questions to the three candidates running in the Kootenay-Monashee riding that includes Castlegar, Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale, Slocan Valley and some communities on Lower Arrow Lake.
Glen Byle represents the Conservative Party of B.C., Steve Morissette represents the B.C. NDP and Donovan Cavers represents the B.C. Green Party.
The candidates were given 100 words per question to complete their answers. The answers appear as they were submitted, without editing. We will publish one question each day this week.
Many schools in the region are forced to use portables due to overcrowding or have very old buildings. How will you or your party address education infrastructure shortfalls in the region?
Byle: We are committed to creating enough permanent classroom spaces to eliminate the need for any portable trailer classrooms. If elected I will look forward to working with local teachers to find a path to that solution that works best for them, and for the students in this area. I would have more information to share but unfortunately our party has not released our full education platform by submission time for this question.
Cavers: Education is the most important investment we can make in the future well-being of society. I’m certainly biased as someone working as an elementary and secondary educator. Portables are a terrible learning environment. I can speak to this issue from liver experience. Even during moderate weather portables impact learning and a teacher’s ability to keep their class connected to the wider school community. Collaborative work is essential and must be prioritized. Green MLAs know the importance and value to society of investing in both operating and capital funds in education and healthcare.
Morissette: A quality public education system is crucial to our region, and the BC NDP is taking action to give our kids the quality education they deserve. An example of this is the new Glenmerry elementary school in Trail, which should be open in 2025. The province is investing $39.1 million to replace and upgrade Glenmerry Elementary School. The old school was built in 1959 and the new school will increase capacity with an additional 165 seats. The NDP platform for election 2024 also commits to building more than 20,000 new student spaces.
