Gary Coons

VICTORIA — An arbitrator’s ruling has found the B.C. Liberals’ failure to invest in public education has left children struggling to learn in overcrowded classrooms across the province, say New Democrats.

B.C. Children’s Minister Mary Polak faced a new round of criticism yesterday for sacking the senior advisers to two programs that help disabled children.

VICTORIA – The BC Liberals’ decision to cut the Infant Development Program will hurt families who have children with disabilities, especially those living in First Nations communities and in remote areas said New Democrat Gary Coons today.

For immediate release
Today’s budget is built on BC Liberal deception and incompetence. It’s a “tax and cut” budget that will surely hit the lower and middle class especially those that live in the north and rural areas.  It highlights the deception and lies that British Columbians were told a short 3 months ago.
We now have [...]

Bursaries for students pursuing health careers among programs getting axed
PRINCE RUPERT— The fact that the Campbell government has slashed the budget for student aid by $12 million will hurt northern students says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
“It costs more to go to university when you are from a northern or remote community,” said Coons. “It [...]

Last week’s federal budget missed an opportunity to adequately boost post-secondary funding and research activity to help our economy’s short-term rescue and long-term prosperity.

The Auditor General’s report on the state of seismic upgrades highlights that the Campbell government has broken its promise to make schools safe for B.C.’s children, New Democrat education critic Norm Macdonald said today.

Government audit recommends scrapping subsidy program
A recommendation to start charging ferry fares for students to attend school would have a terrible impact on families on coastal communities, say the New Democrats.
“The government’s internal audit (attached) shows just how much Gordon Campbell has lost touch with the needs of coastal communities,” said NDP ferry critic Gary [...]

The Campbell government’s failure to include rural community schools in the Premier’s Neighbourhoods of Learning (NOL) program shows that the program is being used for political opportunism rather than real need, says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
Coons pointed to Tahayghen Elementary on Haida Gwaii as a school that would greatly benefit from the Neighbourhoods of [...]

Carole James has outlined a strong economic plan for B.C. that will make post-secondary education more accessible for all students, including those from remote and rural regions, says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
“Carole James recognizes the barriers that make it difficult for students to get a post-secondary education,” said Coons. “This plan will make a [...]