Produced By The BTA Local Elections Contacts Frank Bonvino Election Derek Cockram THE WHISTLE Edition Katie Marsh Morgan McKee Newsletter of the Teachers’ Association

Special Edition Election Issue October 2020

President: DANIEL TÉTRAULT, [email protected] 1st Vice-President: HEATHER SKUSE, [email protected] 2nd Vice-President: SHANEE PRASAD, [email protected] Burnaby Teachers’ Association #115-3993 Henning Drive Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6P7 604 294 8141

Burnaby Deer Lake Wang by nearly 2,500 votes and Green candidate Rick McGowan by nearly 6,800 votes.

Glynnis Hoi Sum Chan BC Liberals

The Chan, a Burnaby resident who Candidates for Burnaby owns Happy Times Travel in Vancouver and Richmond, Deer Lake ran for Vancouver city council in 2018 under Hector Bremner’s Yes Vancouver banner. She The Candidates garnered just over 13,000 Advanced Voting votes and came in 36th of 71 Locations and Times: In Burnaby-Deer Lake, BC candidates. Liberal candidate Glynnis Hoi Sum Chan and BC Green candidate Mehreen Deer Lake United Church Chaudry are hoping to Mehreen 5135 Sperling Ave unseat BC NPD Chaudry Burnaby, BC incumbent . BC Greens Thu-Wed Oct 15– 21

Anne Kang Deer Lake Legion 83 BC NDP Chaudry, a project manager Poppy Residences Incumbent and business analyst, also ran

5291 Grimmer St for municipal office in 2018, Burnaby, BC but for the Greens in Burnaby. Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 Kang, most recently the She got 12,600 votes and Minister of Citizens’ Services came in 13th out of 23 candidates. South Burnaby Lawn Bowls in the NDP government, served nearly three terms as a Club 4000 Kingsway Burnaby city councillor be- Burnaby, BC fore stepping down to run for (Summaries from https:www.newwestrecord.ca/) Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 provincial office in 2017. She secured nearly 9,000 votes, beating out Liberal Karen

Advanced voting in Burnaby: October 15 - 21provincial election October 24, 2020

Burnaby Edmonds Tripat Atwal BC Liberal

Atwal, a Surrey Realtor who taught high school English and social sciences in her native India, has lived in Canada since 2008. This is her first foray into Canadian politics, but her father, lawyer Charanjit Singh Atwal, is the former speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly and the former deputy speaker of the Advanced Voting Lok Sabha, the parliament of India. Locations and Times:

Alan Emmott Centre 6650 Southoaks Cres Burnaby, BC Iqbal Parekh Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 BC Greens The Candidates BC NDP (incumbent) Parekh has lived in the Burnaby In Burnaby-Edmonds, only the Chouhan, who most recently Edmonds area since 1991. He three main parties are fielding served as the deputy speaker of has been working in admissions candidates in this election. BC the legislative assembly, was the and recruitment at public Liberal candidate Tripat Atwal founding president of the post-secondary and and BC Green candidate Iqbal Canadian Farmworkers Union independent high schools in Parekh are looking to unseat and the BC Organization to B.C. and other parts of Canada three-term NDP incumbent Fight Racism. He first took the for 10 years. Raj Chouhan. seat in 2005 by a mere 738 He currently sits on the board votes over Liberal of directors at Edmonds but has increased his margin in Community Center’s 55+ subsequent elections. group and clubs and also acts (Summaries from as treasurer. https:www.newwestrecord.ca/)

Vote and Win! After voting, take a picture of yourself at the poll or mailbox and post it to social media #BTAVotes to enter our draw to win A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE .

Burnaby North years working for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, a union representing 200,000 federal

government employees. She has also represented workers at the Federal Employment Insurance Appeals Board and been involved in several non-profits.

Dr. Raymond Dong BC Liberal

Perhaps no Burnaby candidate understands the hearts of local constituents better than Dong. Mind you, that’s speaking quite literally of the cardiologist, whose practice is located in Surrey. Dong also has volunteer experience with advisory councils for Diabetes Canada and the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, as well as working on the board of the Vancouver Academy of Music. Advanced Voting The Candidates Locations and Times: Only the three main parties are Norine Shim Capitol Hill Comm Hall running in , with BC Greens 361 Howard Ave the BC Greens and BC Liberals Burnaby, BC seeking to unseat the BC NDP Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 incumbent.

Vancouver Korean Gospel Church 3905 Norland Ave Shim is the former executive Burnaby, BC assistant to the chief financial officer Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 BC NDP at the City of Vancouver, according (incumbent) to her LinkedIn profile. Prior to her Willingdon Comm Centre 1491 two years in that position, she Carleton Ave worked as an executive assistant to Burnaby, BC Routledge was first elected as MLA the managing director of First Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 for Burnaby North in spring 2017 Capital, a real estate investment and currently serves as the NDP’s (Summaries from trust. She has also been a travel deputy whip. Prior to her time in consultant and a hotel sales manager. https:www.newwestrecord.ca/) government, she spent more than 30

Vote and Win! After voting, take a picture of yourself at the poll or mailbox and post it to social media #BTAVotes to enter our draw to win A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE .

Burnaby Lougheed construction, development, property management and real estate. He’s described in his party profile as a “devoted community advocate” with “a proven track record of community service and engagement.” In 2018, he was elected president of the Bangladesh Cultural Association, in which he founded the Vancouver Bangla School.

Andrew Williamson BC Greens

Williamson is a filmmaker and activist who says he decided to combine those roles to run for public office in this election, according to a LinkedIn post. He is a producer with Cedar Island Films, which most Advanced Voting Locations and Times: recently put out The Magnitude of All Things, a film about grief and Lochdale Community Hall hope in the climate crisis. 490 Sperling Ave Burnaby, BC BC NDP Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 (incumbent)

Lougheed Mall - #159 159-9855 Austin Rd Burnaby, BC Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 Chen was first elected to the Dominique Salvation Army Temple legislature in the 2017 provincial Paynter 7195 Cariboo Rd Burnaby, BC election, and she immediately took Libertarian Thu-Sat Oct 15-17, on the role of minister of state for Tue-Wed Oct 20-21 child care. She has worked as an St. Stephen The Martyr-Anglican Church organizer with tenants’ rights 9887 Cameron St Burnaby, BC advocacy group ACORN and served In her professional life, Paynter works Thu-Mon Oct 15-19, Wed Oct 21 on the executive of several local in children’s programming and has a Charles Rummel Centre non-profit organizations, according bachelor degree in traditional 3630 Lozells Ave Burnaby, BC to her legislature profile. animation. In a profile of Paynter, the Thu-Wed Oct 15-21 party notes she hasn’t always been The Candidates interested in politics, but “recent

events have catalyzed her to take a In the riding of Burnaby-Lougheed, there is Tariq Malik a total of four candidates listed by BC Liberal stand” and enter politics. Elections BC, running for the three main parties – the BC Liberals, the BC NDP and (Summaries from the BC Greens – along with a Libertarian https:www.newwestrecord.ca/) Party candidate. Malik is an entrepreneur working in

Vote and Win! After voting, take a picture of yourself at the poll or mailbox and post it to social media #BTAVotes to enter our draw to win A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE . Submissions: Features (750words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected]

the Lower Mainland having higher case BTA Candidate Questionaire planning for every eventuality. And as counts than any other region, it is extremely part of that planning, the BC NDP important that we have local MLAs who commits to an additional $46.2 will speak out strongly for local needs. Some The BTA submitted a million in COVID related funding areas will need extra resources and supports per year for districts to use as they see questionaire sent out to all the and we are committed to advocate for those fit. resources. We recognize that each school candidates. Here are their  In addition, in August/September the district is different and needs the flexibility responses BC NDP government purchased and to respond to its unique circumstances. distributed more than 1.5 million non There are 24,000 students and 4000 NDP -medical masks and 55,000 plastic teachers in Burnaby. It is a testament to the The four Burnaby BC NDP face shields to districts across the vigilance of the entire school community – candidates would like to submit a joint province in preparation for the teachers, students, parents, administrators – response to this questionnaire. We worked September school restart. that communication to school communities together as a team to address the issues  Even prior to the pandemic, John impacting Burnaby. We combined our has been streamlined and consistent. As well, we are committed to working with Fraser Horgan and the BC NDP were vocal many years of experience and our in their advocacy for an enhanced expertise to speak with one voice in order Health to address COVID-19 reporting challenges. We understand that the Burnaby national sick leave program. When the to effectively advocate for our community. pandemic hit, reached On issue such as education, we are stronger Board of Education will be investing the $11.8 million it saved as the result of its out to Prime Minister Trudeau to together. We are committed to continuing renew his call for a national program to work with the BTA to ensure that the spending freeze at the beginning of the pandemic into COVID-19 safety measures. and in July the federal government Minister of Education is aware of the announced a $1.1 billion national challenges and opportunities in Burnaby This type of investment is not normally allowed, but the John Horgan and the BC program that will give 10 days of paid Schools. sick leave to all British Columbians. A NDP government gave boards of education As an MLA, what will you do to help the power to do so because of the pandemic. re-elected BC NDP will continue to improve the safety of teachers’ working We recognize that there are issues and work with the federal government to conditions in Burnaby? Currently, classes challenges in the school system that need to implement this program in the are overcrowded, reporting of COVID province as soon as possible be addressed. The following commitments cases is problematic and many teachers are are in our platform: How will you work with the Burnaby feeling unsafe and under-supported.  We’re committing an additional $3 Teachers’ Association to ensure teachers’ The four of us each have close connections billion per year, on top of our already concerns and issues are part of your caucus’ to the education system. Anne is a former budgeted $23 billion capital and party’s priorities? As an MLA, what Burnaby teacher and has two children who infrastructure plan that will be used to will you do to provide stable, predictable, attend school in Burnaby. Katrina is a build new schools or expand/upgrade and adequate funding for public schools?

former Burnaby school trustee and has a existing ones across the province, to All four of us very much value the child in a Burnaby school. Raj is a former relieve some of the pressure in areas relationship we have built with the Burnaby PAC vice-chair and has two grandchildren with growing populations. Teachers’ Association during our time in who attend school in Burnaby. Janet has  Combining the total of previously elected office. We have always two grandchildren who attend Burnaby announced federal and provincial maintained an open-door policy with the schools, her son is a Burnaby School funding with the new commitments in BTA and have always accommodated their Trustee, and her daughter-in-law is a our platform, there will be an requests to meet. We’ve worked closely teacher. We all want teachers to feel safe additional $334.2 million available to with them and have made every effort to and supported. We understand that districts for the 2020/21 school year address their concerns. If re-elected, we are COVID has brought unprecedented to address COVID related needs, like committed to strengthening that challenges and our schools are a reflection hiring more teachers to accommodate relationship. of what is happening in our communities. alternative learning options; hiring cus- Over the past three years the John Horgan We strongly believe that reducing todial staff to enhance cleaning sched- government has been working hard to community transmission of the virus will ules; buying equipment like undo the damage that the BC Liberal make our schools safer. While the recent plexiglass barriers or air-scrubbers; government did to our public education low percentage of positive cases shows that updating ventilation; purchasing system. We are committed to ensuring that B.C. has once again made progress on additional PPE and any other related teachers receive the support they need. flattening the curve, we know there is more resource needs teachers and districts Each of us have strong connections to our public education that needs to be done to identify. education system and are committed to ensure that people are gathering safely. We  While we all hope we have seen the being strong voices for stable, predictable, are committed to doing that work. With worst of the pandemic, we are and adequate funding for public schools.

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009 Submissions: Features (750 words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected]

When there are Burnaby issues that need The pandemic has created both operational BC Liberals to be addressed, the four of us speak to and economic challenges for the Burnaby Please accept the following the Minister with one voice and advocate Board of Education. COVID-19 has responses to your Election 2020 strongly for Burnaby’s needs. reduced the amount revenue the Burnaby questions from BC Liberal After forming government, the BC NDP Board of Education receives from revenue candidate in Burnaby-Lougheed appointed an independent review panel to streams such as international student Tariq Malik on behalf of all undertake a review of how public enrollment, facility rentals, and investment Burnaby BC Liberal Candidates:

education is funded for the first time in income. As an MLA, what will you do to help almost 30 years. The panel made 22 These challenges were brought forward to us improve the safety of teachers' work- recommendations to improve equity, in a combined MLA/Trustee Zoom ing conditions in Burnaby? Currently, accountability and financial management. meeting in the Spring. The information we classes are overcrowded, reporting of The BC NDP is moving forward with a received in this meeting helped us to better COVID cases is two-phased approach to implement some understand the complexities of the impact of problematic and many teachers are recommendations and to allow for further COVID-19 on Burnaby schools. feeling unsafe and under-supported. consultation with partner groups on the Over the years the Burnaby Board of recommendations still to be implemented. Education and local MLAs have met in Now, more than ever, we need our For the 2020/21 school year, the BC order to keep each other apprised about political leadership to focus on the health NDP is providing an additional $133.6 opportunities and challenges within the and safety of British Columbians— million in operating grants to school system. These meetings are very unique to including in our school system. Instead, the districts this year for a total of more than Burnaby and allow the seamless flow of NDP decided to call a pandemic election. $5.5 billion. In our first three years, the information between the two levels of As the BC Liberal candidate for Burnaby- BC NDP government increased government. Lougheed, I’ve heard from Burnaby per-student funding by 20%, while other A concrete example of how these meetings residents on a number of issues relating to provinces have only grown by 5% or less have benefited Burnaby is child care in the COVID-19 pandemic, ICBC, over that time. The funding the BC NDP schools, from the partnership between the homeless encampments. As a father of 4, I added to the education system amounts to Provincial Government, the City of Burnaby understand the anxiety felt in our school an increase of $1,900 in per- student and the Burnaby Board of Education: system by teachers, staff, and families. funding. We recognize that we have more https://www.burnabynow.com/news/ During the pandemic, the BC Liberals work to do to reverse the years of cuts education/school-board-city-province- want to ensure that there are consistent under the BC Liberals, and the BC NDP partner-on-601-new-child-care-spaces-in- learning options for students across our remain committed to increasing supports burnaby-1.24094874 province. This includes options for for school districts to continue to deliver a Should we be re-elected we all commit to regular school in a safe setting during the world class public education for our continuing to advocate for the needs of pandemic, including hybrid and online, students. Burnaby schools in the Legislature. Our whether in a public school, independent advocacy will be shaped by the information school or via online learning or What do you think is the number one Independent Distributed Learning. We issue facing Burnaby schools right now we receive from our Burnaby education partners, including the Burnaby Teachers will upgrade K-12 facilities to ensure they and what will you do in the Legislature to are properly equipped, build schools across help address it? Association and the individual teachers we interact with. the province, and expand new The biggest challenge facing Burnaby construction in areas with rapid Is there anything else you would like schools right now is the ongoing global population growth. Burnaby teachers to know? pandemic. All of our province’s education How will you work with the Burnaby partners have come together to find ways We want Burnaby teachers to know that we Teachers' Association to ensure teachers' to make major changes to the system in value their work and their positive concerns and issues are part of your cau- order to make schools as safe as possible. contributions to our community. We cus' and party's priorities? As an MLA, Getting the new infrastructure and understand that the ramifications of 16 years what will you do to provide stable, pre- procedures in place has been extremely of BC Liberal cuts to our education system dictable, and adequate funding for public challenging. There is still much we don’t run deep and that it is taking time to undo schools? know about COVID-19 and that has had all of the damage they did. We know there a huge impact on the planning process. is more work to do and we are deeply As an immigrant, I know it’s important to The unsafe gatherings, which caused our committed to increasing supports to school work hard to ensure everyone has a voice. case numbers to spike across the province, districts. We appreciate that the return to The BC Liberals are committed to have made the work even more difficult. school during a pandemic has been hard on improving students’ and teachers’ health Dealing with these unprecedented teachers. We thank them for giving our and safety, by implementing a challenges is a testament to the dedication children a sense of normalcy during a crisis province-wide framework for hybrid and of all our education partners. that has the potential of undermining their online learning options,and upgrading mental health and resiliency. K-12 facilities. This would mean adequate

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009 Submissions: Features (750 words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected]

funding for the teaching positions needed 67-per cent increase. Among youth aged 10 20and%20Composition.pdf to teach students in these various to 19 years old there were 354 cases on Sept. “As of 2015–16, BC’s K–12 per student environments. On the other hand, instead 10. By Sept. 30, that number had climbed to spending remained $1,866 less than the of providing stable, predictable, and 522, a 47 per cent increase.” Global News national average. “BCTF adequate funding for BC’s education Oct 1, 2020 As professionals, teachers are entrusted ($1284 according to Fraser Insti- system, the NDP cut $12 million from tute’s conservative estimate- still well Independent Distributed Learning regularly with private information, and that programs. We will restore this funding. should include knowing which children have below the national average) contracted COVID19. Teachers spend six Per capita Operating Funding has only What do you think is the number one hours a day with students instructing and increased 1.6 percent annually between issue facing Burnaby schools right observing students in classrooms and on the 2016 and 2020 in nominal terms. now and what will you do in the playgrounds. When a case of COVID19 is *A "basket" of goods and services that cost Legislature to help address it? identified in a school, teachers are $9093.38 in 2016 dollars would cost A key issue facing Burnaby schools are well-positioned to assist in identifying close $9665.69 in 2019 which represents a 0.6 options for students and teachers to contacts. Often children cannot recall the percent annual increase in real terms safely learn and work. This is why names of peers they interact with in class or Canadian Dollar Inflation Calculator we’re committed to create safe on the playground. As we can see there is a huge gap in what is learning environments, including Additionally, teachers can strengthen the needed and what is provided by the hybrid and online educational options. measures they take in their classrooms to government. What I can ensure is that I ensure a safer environment. would work with the teachers in voicing and Is there anything else you would like I know there are also concerns about what presenting this GAP so we can make a case Burnaby teachers to know? happens if a teacher contracts COVID19. If to get more funding for our children who A part of rebuilding BC, and restoring they are asymptomatic, will they be required are the future of the country. The BC Green confidence is ensuring that teachers and to teach from home? How will their benefits Party official plan for Early childhood students feel safe in our K-12 educational such as sick days be education and care is to : system. This is why we plan to spend protected? Many teachers have other teachers Create a comprehensive program for early $3.8 billion on education as part of our in their family. How will school districts childhood education and care. We would Rebuild BC plan, with $1 billion in new protect other teacher family members, who increase funding for child care programs capital spending. This builds on our may work in other districts? from $674 million in 2020/21 to $897 record of spending 32% more on Teachers need clear, consistent guidelines million in 2024/25. Funding would cover education from 2001-2017. and protections based on science, from the the phase-in of the various elements of this Province, so teachers can have certainty for plan for a comprehensive program that themselves and their families. The Union would include: BC Green needs to be at the table when these measures  Professional development

Mehreen Chaudry Burnaby Edmonds are developed. Green MLAs believe in opportunities to increase putting the health and safety of constituents qualifications of existing child care As an MLA, what will you do to help ahead of the political health of a party. I will workers, and the training of more early improve the safety of teachers’ working advocate ensuring that teachers have a greater childhood educators in certified conditions in Burnaby? Currently, classes role in the development of public health programs; are overcrowded, reporting of COVID measures that directly affect the classroom.  The expansion of available physical cases is problematic and many teachers are How will you work with the Burnaby spaces, prioritizing partnerships with feeling unsafe and under-supported. public schools, community Teachers’ Association to ensure teachers’ As a mother whose kids are now back in concerns and issues are part of your caucus’ non-profits, and First Nations; school I know the anxiety very well. Kids and party’s priorities? As an MLA, what will  Establish professional wages for early in BC are very lucky to have teachers and you do to provide stable, predictable, and childhood educators; staff who are so dedicated to their learning adequate funding for public schools?  Up to 25 hours’ free ECE per week and well-being. Back to school has not for 3 and 4 year olds; been just hard for parents but has There has not been much significant increased investment to reduce class sizes.  Free childcare for working parents presented quite a challenge for the with children under 3; teachers. What we need right now is Since the NDP took office there have not  Maintaining child care subsidies and smaller class sizes and stronger mask been significant declines in average supports as needed to ensure policies in school. elementary class sizes in Burnaby. On adequate financial support for all “According to the B.C. Centre for Disease average, there are 0ver 600 classes with 4 or families. Control, there were 178 cases among kids more IEPs in the district.  under 10 years old on Sept. 10. By Sept. *https://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/ Moving the Ministry of State for 30, that number had climbed to 298 — a Public/Issues/ClassSize/Province% Childcare into the Ministry of 20and%20District%20Class%20Size% Education.

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009 Submissions: Features (750 words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected]

Dominique Paynter way it is delivered. It’s already well-  Putting a focus on mental health in (Libertarian, Burnaby Lougheed) recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach schools: We’re building on our

As an MLA, what will you do to help results in far too many students being left investment into mental health improve the safety of teachers’ working behind. The logical extension of that view is supports for students and staff and are conditions in Burnaby? that the availability of more approaches will committed to better supporting leave fewer students behind. A quality children and youth with special needs Currently, classes are overcrowded, education should not depend on the and their families, so everyone reporting of COVID cases is problematic geographical location or the financial means involved in our kids’ learning gets the and many teachers are feeling unsafe and of a child’s family. Educational choice is help they need. under-supported. I think this is an how the playing field can be leveled between  Fast-tracking improvements to online opportunity to test out a number of the underprivileged and those lucky enough and remote learning: We’ll invest in alternative approaches to education. to live in close proximity to the best schools. more computers and tablets, more Options like online learning, student pods, I would stress, again, that removing much of training for teachers and support staff, homeschooling and private tutoring are all the provincial influence on regional and in new ways to improve social viable options that allow some deviation to educational issues, and moving it to a more e-learning that promotes group the previous monolithic system we’ve had streamlined, district focused level is the best interactions between students and in place for the past few decades. I also solution. teachers. believe that the decisions on this problem  should actually rest with educators and Is there anything else you would like Continuing the largest modernization Burnaby teachers to know? of schools in BC’s history: We’ll con- those on the frontlines of academia, not the government. As an MLA I will certainly As a newcomer to the political landscape, I tinue the largest investment of schools listen to feedback and suggestions from can’t claim that I have all the answers or in BC’s history – with a focus on educators, but I think the majority of the solutions for the many problems that plague meeting seismic requirements and decision making force should be with them. our educational system. What I can say climate change and energy efficiency though, is that I am here to make a positive standards as set out in our CleanBC How will you work with the Burnaby plan. Teachers’ Association to ensure teachers’ change, and in order to do that I need to be receptive to all kinds of feedback from those  Bringing in local food programs in concerns and issues are part of your caucus’ partnership with school districts: To and party’s priorities? As an MLA, directly involved with issues in this community. I am open to hearing opinions, help make sure students are properly what will you do to provide stable, fed for learning, we’ll work with predictable, and adequate funding for ideas and suggestions, even though I may not necessarily agree with all of them school districts to help create local Public schools? school meal programs based on personally. Education for the younger I think it would be wise to look at moving Generation is something that is important to district data and priorities. And just decision-making away from the Ministry of me. As a youth, school was my escape from like with the hospital food program education and toward local school districts. many personal problems at home, and I had we created, we’ll integrate FeedBC As a MLA I would aim to be in direct many teachers and mentors from school that into this plan so that districts can communication with the Burnaby Teachers’ helped put me on a trajectory to success. I’d include locally grown food. Association and other educational like all children to have this option,  Taking the fundraising burden off providers, about how we can best introduce regardless of their background. Education is parents: We’ll continue to take the a system where public education funding a powerful tool, and I believe the constant pressure off parents to fundraise while can follow the student, on an opt-in basis. back-and-forth in the legislature stymies any giving students safe, accessible This solution certainly won’t please progress that can be made. There are too playgrounds by expanding our everyone,so it will be vital for me as a MLA many hands in the pot, so to speak. Playground Fund to more schools. to listen to the feedback I receive from your  Making sure classrooms have the organization, as well as teachers and Party Platforms on Education resources they need: We will deliver students, to see how I can amend and targeted investments to help make sure modify our party platform in a way that NDP students have the classroom supplies best represents those concerns. they need to succeed, so parents and  Keeping kids safe during the pandemic: teachers don’t have to pay the full cost What do you think is the number one issue We’ll continue to make classrooms out-of-pocket. facing Burnaby schools right now and what safer through the installation of new

will you do in the Legislature to help ventilation systems, plexiglass barriers address it? Liberals

in key areas of the school, Ensuring access to quality education for comprehensive cleaning stations, and by  Increase supports and earlier every child regardless of their socio- ensuring more hours of cleaning in all assessments for identifying learning economic background. I think parents schools. needs. should have more choice in determining the

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009 Submissions: Features (750words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected]

 Provide school instruction that meets wages, class size and composition Wilkinson and the BC Liberals are in it to the diverse learning needs of between districts; help their rich, connected friends and give students.  Improve access to speech-language tax breaks to large corporations. We can’t  Ensure consistent options for pathologists and school psychologists afford to go back to the days of Gordon full-time, regular school in a safe and develop new resources for Campbell and . setting during the pandemic, students with special needs. BC families need to continue including hybrid and online, whether  Develop a new funding formula that moving forward. Together, we in a public school, independent supports a 21st century education can expand and improve $10/day childcare, school or via online learning or system. support our seniors, make it easier for low Independent Distributed Learning. income families, continue to improve health care for everyone and create jobs in a greener  Work with school districts to ensure Libertarians economy. Going backward is simply not an the provision of consistent unified  Shift authority down to regional option. portals for parents, including access school boards where possible; Make a plan today. Make a plan to get out to report cards, registrations and  Empower parent choice in education; and vote by mail, the advance polls or on authorization forms.  Have funding follow the student; election day. Find your most convenient  Upgrade K-12 facilities and ensure voting location here: https:// they are properly equipped. elections.bc.ca/voting/where-to-vote/  Labour Council Endorses NDP Build new schools throughout the The Canadian Labour Congress supports province, and expand new school Although the BTA has not endorsed this John Horgan’s plan for BC. A plan construction in areas with rapid election, here are the statements from the that increases affordability, a better life for population growth. labour organizations that the BTA are working people, equality for all citizens, and affiliated with. government that will fight this pandemic Green together with all of us. New West and District Labour Council  Ensure that enrollment during Join us all and get out and vote and support

COVID does not compromise the John Horgan and your BC NDP candidate. At our September regular meeting the quality of education, nor the ability delegates and Executive Board of the New of schools to retain current teachers In Solidarity, Westminster & District Labour Council or education assistants. passed a motion to endorse all of the BC Stephen von Sychowski  Maintain additional COVID funding NDP candidates in our region in the President, VDLC for PPE and online learning Provincial Election. Vancouver and District Labour Council throughout this school year, and into We appreciate the hard work of Premier http://www.vdlc.ca/ the 2020/2021 school year as Horgan and the BC NDP team for all of required. their work on behalf of working people and  Ensure every school district has the families after 16 years of BC Liberal neglect This Provincial Election, Let’s Not Let resources to develop a credible and and mismanagement. It is critical that Perfect be the Enemy of the Good – Vote robust remote learning and hybrid union members and working people get NDP learning options. Frank Bonvino active in the election. BTA Past President, Executive Member,Local Election

 Support the mental health of our Contact Vancouver District Labour Council students with $24 million in new Statement A provincial election is upon us, one like no funding to enhance the number of We are days away from the October 24 BC other before. Our lives have changed counsellors in our schools, starting general election. Thousands have already dramatically over the past several months. with the current school year. voted by mail and many more will vote in But as ever, as teachers, we know that our  Develop and implement a province- the advance polls which open votes hinge not only on a party or wide plan to address racism that tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, and stay candidate’s stance on education, but on who exists in schools, and commit to open until Wednesday, October 21. we wish to lead our province in a socially additional, ongoing funding to deep- We have a provincial government, led by just way, keeping in mind things such as en the work of reconciliation and NDP leader John Horgan, who’s first affordable housing, childcare, and Indigenous education across K-12. priority is to fight the pandemic we find community wellness.  Provide $100 million in new funding ourselves in. By adding resources to long Core Values to create a new capital program in the term care facilities, protecting the jobs Ministry of Education to fund workers rely on, and assisting Let’s look at the core values of the two ma- renovation and additions to existing tenants to make their rent. The BC NDP is jor parties that have a chance of forming schools to support ECE spaces. on your side. government.  Address the continued disparities in We know that the stakes are high. Andrew The BC NDP have clearly chosen a path where they will be focussing on investments

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009 Submissions: Features (750 words maximum) and photos should be sent to [email protected] in public infrastructure, as they should. This PST elimination for one year and a from Wilkinson (The Tyee They Zoomed public infrastructure includes affordable reduction to 3% for the subsequent year, as Then Made It Worse). childcare, a plan that they ran on in 2017 and this revenue loss accounts for at least $10 The Choice the BC Liberals vehemently opposed – right billion - larger than the Campbell tax cut in up until the infamous clone speech (The 2001 (Consumption Taxation). What The BC NDP is not perfect – far from it. I Province Christy Clark Impersonates New effect will this have on education? wish the BC NDP had made some different Democrats). After the failed clone speech, Presumably years of wage freezes for choices during the previous 3.5 years, but the however, the critic on this portfolio for the teachers, a flatlining of spending on choice is between them and a BC Liberal BC Liberals (Laurie Throness) education (i.e. not keeping up with party that will undoubtedly implement infamously stated in the BC Legislature that inflation), and austerity on a massive scale policies to disproportionately favour the universal childcare investments are not for the entire public sector, at a time when wealthy at the expense of social necessary. He and presumably his party, as he ordinary folks will need supports from the infrastructure for the rest of us. is their spokesperson on this file, feel that social ministries the most. The BC Greens, you say? There is no chance universal childcare already exists when one How can we be certain of this? Because the for any BC Green candidate to successfully parent stays home to look after the children – poor and middle class in 2001, win a riding in Metro Vancouver (or the a not very subtle way of saying that women disproportionately experienced the hardship Mainland in general) - their best case should stay home and let their husbands work felt by the more than $3 billion loss of scenario is to hold on to the three seats on (Trailtimes Child Care Isn’t Needed). The public spending per year on health, Vancouver Island. A vote for the BC Greens very fact that the BC Liberals have not education and other public services that will not go far enough to prevent a replaced him in this critic role, or censured Campbell’s tax cuts brought. Should the BC catastrophic outcome the BC Liberals’ him, speaks volumes with respect to their Liberals be elected and implement their policies will be sure to bring – only voting intention to follow through with a universal PST elimination, the effect will be just as for the BC NDP can do that. childcare plan should they be elected. devastating – or worse. Even former BC As teachers, we will have far more success in But the most alarming bit, however, is that it Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott advocating for a fair salary increase for is generally understood that during times of now admits to the likely devastation this ourselves and supports for our students with crises, budget deficits are inevitable. The PST cut would bring when recalling how an NDP government versus a BC Liberal approaches the two parties are taking to get problematic the cuts were in 2001 under one. there, however, are quite different. ’s BC Liberals. In fact, he Our community, who knows that austerity The BC NDP traditionally has prioritized believes it would not be possible to imple- for the poor and middle class is not the way public services, whereas the BC Liberals have ment this PST elimination without severe out of a pandemic, will have far more success a history of prioritizing tax cuts for the cuts to the social ministries (Former Minis- with an NDP government versus a BC Liber- wealthy and, in turn, cutting public services ter BC Liberal PST Cut). al government. to offset the lost revenue. The recent case The last piece with respect to core values I The way to prevent this? Vote NDP. study in this province was seen in 2001 when would like to touch on is how the parties Is it perfect? No. the newly elected BC Liberals consider those that have traditionally been But this election, let’s not let perfect be the immediately cut taxes in a way that fighting to have their voices heard. The enemy of the good. disproportionately favoured the wealthy. This blatant homophobia and sexism expressed was inevitably followed up by ripping up by Laurie Throness and others within the contracts in the Health and Education sectors BC Liberal ranks has gone completely (disproportionately affecting women), unchecked under the current leadership coupled with massive cuts to social services to (Open Letter Urges Removal of Liberal offset the lost revenue in what many Chilliwack Kent Candidate). Throness’ economists acknowledge was a regressive tax views on gender and LGBTQ issues have shift – the wealthy benefited tremendously. been problematic for some time but have In fact, the Campbell tax cuts were so continued without consequence for him – regressive that, combined, these tax cuts and now he seems to have some company in delivered an average of over $9,200 per year these views (BC Liberal Candidate Votes to the richest 10% of BC households, and Against Rainbow Crosswalk). more than $41,000 to the top 1%. In Not to be outdone, a few weeks before the contrast, lower income households received election date, we see how BC Liberal leader an average tax cut of $200 per year, while has not expressly those in middle got just over $1,200 – all at condemned the sexist (and racist) behaviour the expense of a massive reduction in social of his MLA Jane Thornthwaite, who infrastructure (Policy Alternatives CCPA BC accused NDP MLA for using Regressive Tax Shift). her sexuality to curry favour with a So it is with disbelief and horror that I colleague. Again, very little action followed viewed the BC Liberals’ announcement of a

Any opinions expressed in “The Whistle” are those of the authors alone

KR/usw/leu2009