OPPOSITION Critic for Education Jackie Tegart on Tuesday, in response to the NDP’s announcement about new COVID reporting and safety measures for B.C. schools, said in a statement: “As COVID case counts continue to increase and with transmission in schools on the rise, the expectation was that the government would consider implementing a number of the suggestions that have been put forward by parent advisory groups, teachers, school staff and others.

“Timely, transparent information has been requested by B.C. families as well as the Opposition since the start of COVID, and we have reiterated this call many times. Until we see the measures announced today in action, it is hard to know how comprehensive and helpful they will be. For parents, being forced to check a website at the end of a long day and scroll through for the information they need is not good enough.

“All students deserve to be equally well protected — it’s unacceptable to teachers, students and parents that school boards are being put in the position of implementing different rules because of a lack of leadership by Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside.

“Once again, the NDP government’s response to the COVID situation continues to be reactive rather than proactive and once again, the Education Minister is nowhere to be seen. Student COVID cases are rising and people’s anxieties and safety concerns are increasing. Today’s announcement was a disappointment. It’s time for this government to show real leadership, listen to our educators and families, and deliver an improved COVID notification system that will keep students and staff safe in our classrooms.”