Education Minister Joan Burke’s feeble attempt to deflect criticism away from her government’s lack of action on monitoring air quality in our schools is a tired and worn out excuse, says Opposition Education Critic Roland Butler. Yesterday, Burke stated that it was the former Liberal Government’s fault that there is mould in schools five years after leaving office.

“After being in power for five years and winning two elections, Joan Burke still wants to blame former governments for her woeful lack of action in addressing issues in our education system,” said Mr. Butler. “The minister continuously states that her department is investing more in education, yet she doesn’t discuss the fact that inflation and labour costs are forcing higher investments in infrastructure spending, nor does she disclose the fact that education expenditures as a percentage of the provincial budget are down under her leadership.”

Frank Roberts Junior High and St. George’s Elementary in Conception Bay South became the most recent examples of school closures due to poor air quality. Over the past few years, several schools have closed across the province due to mould and air quality issues facing the schools. Students are once again being forced to have their education disrupted and parents forced to find alternate arrangements for their children.

“I have asked the minister to initiate air quality inspections at all schools in the province for the past two years, but my request has continuously been dismissed. In the December 5^th, 2006, Hansard, the minister responded to my request for these inspections stating that “we do know where the problems are.” It is obvious that she doesn’t know where the problems are and that is the reason we need the inspections.

- 30 -