VICTORIAThe provincial Liberals $150-million funding injection into the K-12 education sector is a one shot phenomenon, says veteran independent education consultant John Malcolmson.
According to Malcolmson, the projected funding freeze in education contained in the governments own forecasts for 2006 and 2007 fiscal years could mean significant changes to the way public education is delivered.
And Malcomsons forecast, published in his monthly bulletin Finance Watch, provides yet more evidence that the B.C. Liberals are playing politics on the eve of an election, CUPE BC president Barry ONeill said at the unions 42nd annual convention in Victoria.
With the Liberals, you can get an increase in education spending but only if it is an election year, said ONeill, commenting on Malcolmsons report. The real story in K-12 finance is that a funding freeze in 2001-2002 will be reinstated in 2006-2007 and is to remain in place for at least two years.
ONeill expressed concern that if elected, the B.C. Liberals will move to privatize services in the public education sector. ONeills remark reflects the unions concern about comments made by Larry Blain, CEO of Partnerships BC, on the subject of privatization in education.
The next step will be to use this budget freeze to force school boards to contract-out work to minimum wage companies. Thats whats at stake for us, ONeill said, in reference to the upcoming provincial election.
Information: Louise Leclair Communications Representative: 604-454-4711.