School Violence - QP

THE SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.

 CLAUDIA CHENDER: Yesterday, thousands of children, teachers, and education workers across the province returned to the classroom for another school year in the wake of the Auditor General’s recent report that found that instances of school violence had increased by 60 per cent over the past years.

 This was no surprise to families, staff, and educators who have been raising alarms for years, but it was somehow a surprise to this government, who, while this report was being written, maintained that school violence rates were stable.

 My question to the Premier is: Why did his government ignore this growing problem until the Auditor General released her report?

 THE PREMIER: Everyone has a right to expect that their children will be safe at school, that the people who work in our schools - our teachers and other professionals who work in our schools - are safe when they’re in their places of employment. We all want that as Nova Scotians. That’s not a political thing. That’s just a Nova Scotian - that’s a human thing, Speaker. It’s something we all want.

 The reality is that violence and crime in our communities exists - in our society. It’s finding its way into our schools. We’re taking action as a Province to make sure that our schools are safe places for everyone who is in those buildings, and we’ll continue to do that. This is something that all Nova Scotians want, particularly us on this side of the government.

CLAUDIA CHENDER: That violence has been rising for seven years, and yet last year this government said it was stable.

 The Canadian Union of Public Employees, who represent thousands of school support staff across the province, have attributed this rise in school violence, in part, to the 2018 dissolution of school boards and the attending loss of community oversight, transparency, and decision-making ability. I’ll table that.

With alarming statistics around school violence in the AG report, overcrowded schools, and delays in school capital investments, families deserve transparency and a seat at the table. But this government has now abandoned their 2021 campaign promise to reinstate these elected school boards with no explanation.

 The government previously described school boards as a critical check and balance in the system . . .

THE SPEAKER: Order. Would anyone like to respond to that?

We will be sticking to the 50 seconds to have the question out.

 The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party for her final supplementary.

 CLAUDIA CHENDER: What?

 Speaker, it is shameful that this Premier, once again . . .

 THE SPEAKER: Order. What I would like to do is just explain the rules.

 The rules are that you have 50 seconds to get the question out. (Interruption) Forty-five. Sorry.

 I would just like to explain the rules to you.

 The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.

 CLAUDIA CHENDER: Speaker, this Premier will answer one question a day from each Opposition party, and I’m sorry if he doesn’t get the question mark at the end, but it is unbelievable that this Premier, who has decided to break yet another election promise not to reinstate elected school boards, will not even stand in his place and answer the question, which I will pose very clearly - with a question mark - in the time allotted.

 Why have you broken the promise to Nova Scotian families and students, when violence has been up 60 per cent and school capital is failing across this province, to reinstate elected school boards, which you hammered this Leader for incessantly in his time in office?

 THE SPEAKER: I ask going forward that the member speak through me, and that includes everyone in the room.

 The honourable Premier.

 THE PREMIER: Speaker, the safety of our schools is incredibly important to all Nova Scotians. It would be disingenuous for somebody to suggest that any Nova Scotian doesn’t want students to be safe at school. It would be disingenuous for any Nova Scotian to suggest that any Nova Scotian doesn’t want the people who work in those buildings to be safe. Of course we want that.

 We’re working with the SACs. The SACs will be meeting this month with the Province to talk about a code of conduct and what’s possible. We all have a role in protecting students. We don’t need to scare people with what’s happening in our province. We take the safety of our students very seriously and we’ll continue to do that.