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AUGUST 13, 2014
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TAKING ON WATER
GODIN FEATURE ARTIST AT SHOWCASE B2
Chris Nickless photo
Kamloops resident Melissa Campbell, left, and her paddling partner Jessica White from 100 Mile House took on a lot of water during the Second Annual Redneck Regatta at Ruth Lake on Aug. 10. The Logger Chix teammates were rookies for this year’s race, organized by the Forest Grove 94 Lions, but took home the honour for having the best costumes. They say they’re coming back next year to win it all with a sturdier boat.
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Liberals to fund day care
BCTF, NDP decry spending of earmarked education money Carole Rooney Free Press
To help cover added day-care costs, Education Minister Peter Fassbender has pledged to pay $40 a day to parents of students under age 13 if the teachers’ strike continues into the upcoming school year. British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) president Jim Iker says taking this tactic is a “blatant and divisive attempt to prolong disruption in B.C. schools.” The provincial government should redirect its energies into reaching an agreement with B.C. teachers through mediation this summer, he explains. Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association (CCTA) president Murray Helmer says Fassbender’s move could extend the dispute because now “everyone will have
to compromise even more” with a “In a class of 30 students, at $40 smaller pot of money to work with. a student that is $1,200 a day. The Helmer says he thinks the pres- amount of service improvement sure from parents to resolve the we’re looking for doesn’t cost anyimpasse in education bargaining is where near that; they could take care on both sides – they just of the needs of those stuwant to see their children dents in the classroom quite back in school. handily.” It is a removal of preNDP education critic Rob ordained funding out of Fleming says his party is education where it is “obvicalling on the B.C. Liberal ously needed” and that could government to commit to “go a long way” to resolving putting the $178 million the contract dispute, Helmer saved during the school shut MURRAY HELMER adds. down back into the public “It’s money that was budeducation system. geted for education but it’s not going “Those are parents’ tax dollars and to be spent there now; it’s going to be should go back into helping children spent on day care.” in classrooms ... 100 per cent of this That day care will not be needed money should be going back into if successful bargaining could prog- public education.” ress, and that money could instead While the bargaining representabe used to settle the dispute, he tive for the province and the BCTF explains. went back to the table on Aug. 8, the
CCTA president is uncertain if he will receive much indication on how that went until a general union assembly scheduled to happen just over a week before school is due to resume. Meanwhile, he notes Fassbender’s manoeuvre to use teacher’s lost wages in an attempt to appease parents is “not a helpful move” and signals a negative view of any chance for resolution. Says Helmer: “It appears to be more of a slap in the face than it does as some actual positive move from the government. The focus has shifted away from the bargaining table.” He adds government appears to be indicating it sees no end to the dispute by fall, so it is handing out help to parents, rather than moving forward toward a solution. “I’m saying, let’s put it all out there and make sure that school is up and running on Sept. 2.”