B.C. NDP MLA Rohini Arora. (Image Credit: MLA Rohini Arora.)
Your Perspective

B.C. NDP MLA argues B.C. Conservatives would cut education, health care if elected

Sep 14, 2026 | 12:38 PM

While it’s always bittersweet to see the summer holidays come to a close, I know many students (and parents), love the feeling of going back to school every September.

This year, our government is celebrating a milestone, with 250 school capital projects completed since 2017, including 23 new and improved schools opening this month.

Providing quality public education at safe, modern schools is one of our top priorities, and this year alone we have added 4,700 new seismically safe seats to school districts across the province. These brand-new classrooms will help support learning for children now and in the years ahead, and will provide lasting memories and impact.

Students in Langley will benefit from a new 300-seat seismically sound expansion at Langley Secondary School.

In my community in Burnaby, it was a pleasure to be a part of announcing three new and improved schools last week, including the brand new, seismically safer 415-seat Stride Avenue Community Elementary, and expansions adding 100 new seats in four classrooms at Nelson Elementary and 165 new seats in seven classrooms at Brentwood Park Elementary.

We’re not stopping here – there are also 51 more school replacements, additions, and seismic upgrades underway in B.C. including thirteen brand new schools and 27 additions, so even more students will have access to new, spacious, and safer learning spaces.

While the previous government closed 267 schools around B.C. and spent time and money fighting with teachers, we are investing in what kids and teachers need to have a safe, successful school year.

Since 2017, we have approved more than $7 billion for school capital projects to deliver nearly 50,000 new seats and almost 40,000 seismically safer seats for students to learn in B.C. schools.

BC Conservative MLA Tony Luck has said that under his party, education and healthcare would take the brunt of budget cuts. That’s a risk the B.C. families simply cannot afford.

We know there’s more work to do, and our government will continue to make record investments in education so that students all across the province have access to safe, accessible learning spaces.

I hope everyone had a great first week back to school connecting with friends new and old, and are ready for a fantastic year of learning ahead!