Education minister practises deadly neglect
Vancouver Courier
April 28, 2010
By Jessica Van der Veen, Victoria

To the editor:
Re: "Education minister talks about school district review," April 21.

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid's comments on cuts to public education cast doubt on her competence and understanding of education funding. The increases and surpluses are imaginary. During the economic boom in 2002, this government cut $350 million from operations funding and cut capital funding in half from $450 million to $225 million--now down to $140 million. So districts must save up for big capital projects (not exactly a surplus).

Let's just be grateful the minister no longer practices medicine. Neglect of chronic conditions and lack of advocacy eventually kills the patient. Let's reverse this neglect before it kills universal public education.