YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Chilliwack MLA responds to Chilliwack Teachers’ Association op-ed
I appreciate the Chilliwack Teachers’ Association (CTA) taking the time to engage with my op-ed and to highlight their commitment to public education. Collaboration and collegiality are indeed essential in delivering meaningful services to students, and I welcome the opportunity to work together to ensure the best outcomes for every child in our community.
However, I was disheartened by the tone and direction of Mr. Reid Clark’s statement, which seemed more focused on personal criticism and political conjecture than on addressing the real challenges facing BC’s education system. Public education should never be reduced to a political battleground. Our children deserve leaders and educators who can see beyond partisan alignment to focus on what truly matters: equipping the next generation with the tools they need to thrive.
In my op-ed, I raised an important question: How can we ensure that education funding is tied to measurable outcomes that improve student success? This is not about undermining the value of our teachers or dismissing the hard work being done in classrooms across the province. It’s about asking tough but necessary questions to ensure that every dollar spent directly benefits students and enhances their learning environment.
The facts are clear. Despite historic increases in per-pupil funding under the NDP government, student outcomes in critical areas like reading, math, and science have declined. These aren’t just statistics; they represent missed opportunities for students who deserve better. Accountability and transparency must be at the heart of how we approach education—not as an attack on teachers but as a shared commitment to excellence.
