NDP: Calandra picks control and political games over funding our classrooms

QUEEN’S PARK – In response to the recent announcement from the Minister of Education, NDP Shadow Minister of Education MPP Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West – Nepean) released the following statement:

“This is another power grab by the Minister, shutting parents and communities out of our own schools. Why does the Minister need to proactively protect himself from future legal actions? What does that have to do with student success?

“By further controlling appointments, budgets, and restricting what trustees can even discuss, this government is centralizing decision-making in Queen’s Park and sidelining local voices.

“At the same time, the Minister seems hell-bent on shutting parents out, especially in large urban, rural, and northern communities. We have already seen how this is starting to turn school boards into bureaucratic shells where Conservative-appointed supervisors collect large paycheques and to ignore parents and fire teachers.

“Instead of power grabs and political interference, this government should be investing in smaller class sizes, safer schools, and the supports students and families actually need.”