More HRM Schools

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I would like to ask about investment in schools. This province's capital region is rapidly growing. We hear about this all the time - 80 per cent of last year's growth was in Halifax alone. I will table that. In 2022, in light of this, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education submitted a request to the Province for eight new schools to be built. Last year, finally, the minister did announce schools for HRCE - but only four. We still have no details, no locations, and no capital funding allocations.

My question to the Premier is: Where are the HRM schools going and when?

THE PREMIER « » : It is an absolute fact that our province is growing. Our province is growing at an incredible rate. The population of this province grew by almost 40,000 people last year alone. This is incredible growth. This is an amazing time in the history of our province.

We are building new schools, we are investing in health care infrastructure, we are investing in Nova Scotians, and we will continue to invest in Nova Scotians because that is what is necessary at this point in the growth of this province. It is an amazing time to be living in Nova Scotia. I am happy that we are going to be building new schools across this province, including four in the HRM.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : That's the thing. We are not building new schools in HRM. The HRCE has added 8,000 students in the last five years. That is enough to fill 300 classrooms, and this growth is continuing. Anyone who works, learns, or sends their children to school knows something about the challenges our kids are facing.

The president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union said they were hoping the budget would signal a genuine desire on the part of government to create healthier, safer, and more sustainable learning environments for students and their teachers. Instead, what government delivered was the same old enrollment-based funding formula that has existed for the last decade. The government isn't doing anything faster or sooner when it comes to supporting children at school.

My question to the Premier is: Can the Premier tell the families in HRM and across the province why our children are still stuck in overcrowded classrooms without enough teachers to teach them at this magnificent time for our province?

THE PREMIER « » : I believe I heard the member say - when I said we are building four schools - the member said, But no, you are not building schools. I believe that's what I heard the member say. We have a capital budget for schools this year of $208 million. We are investing in schools, we are investing in infrastructure, we are doing more, and we are doing it faster.

Four new schools is nothing to be negative about. I know that the NDP is completely negative on many things, including four new schools. We are not negative on four new schools. We are positive it means our province is growing. We will build up this province and invest in Nova Scotians.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I come into this beautiful room every day because I am so optimistic about the future of my three children, who are in a school that is 70 years old, after having been in a school that was 50 years old, that has no cafeteria and no prospect of being replaced. There are no schools currently being built in HRM. We have the promise of a future announcement.

The benefits of small class sizes are clear. We know they result in students being more engaged, doing better on tests, and feeling more comfortable. Despite knowing the benefits, this government, with its low investments and slow developments, is continuing to pack students into classrooms. At least 28 classrooms in the Halifax school system are exceeding the caps right now - the hard caps.

We need more schools, and we need more teachers. Again, my question to the Premier is: Can the Premier tell us when the government is going to finally build the schools that we need in HRM?

THE PREMIER « » : There is an incredible budget before this House, and the faster that passes, the faster we can get the money out the door and invest in Nova Scotians. I hope the members opposite will support the budget. A budget that invests in, for the first time in this province . . .

THE SPEAKER « » : Please continue. The honourable Premier.

THE PREMIER « » : . . . a budget that, for the first time in this province, invests in a school lunch program to support the students, invests in education, and invests in Nova Scotians. We will continue to invest in all Nova Scotians, including those who are providing such an incredible service to our children in the education system. I think we've shown that through our track record in working with Nova Scotians.