THE  latest comments from the Provincial Health Officer reinforce the need for the NDP to stop abdicating their responsibility when it comes to a possible vaccination mandate for teachers, the BC Liberals said on Wednesday.

“It’s time for the NDP and the education minister to step out of the shadows and show some leadership,” said Opposition Education Critic Jackie Tegart, MLA for Fraser-Nicola. “Dr. [Bonnie] Henry has been clear there’s a need for mandates but the NDP is choosing to hide behind school boards, putting them in an untenable position. Rather than a patchwork, there needs to be a consistent approach as has been called for by the B.C. Teachers Federation and parents across the province.”

Tegart was responding to Henry who has said that school boards in the North and Interior should implement a vaccination mandate for teachers.

“In the areas of most need, trustees are being put into a precarious position and having to act as health experts. That’s simply wrong. The NDP has no excuse for failing to implement a province-wide approach instead, creating a patchwork system. The [Provincial] Health Officer has indicated that a mandate is necessary so why wouldn’t all students, teachers and staff be treated the same way. The minister has been clear — the government is a co-governor of the education system and now it’s time for her to act,” Tegart added.