I was very surprised by a statement from Education Minister Zach Churchill in the Nov. 15 news story “Minister Churchill again commits to new elementary for Springhill by 2021.”
He asserted that a new elementary school for Springhill had been promised by the NDP government, which then failed to build the promised school.
I had never heard of such a promise, so I checked the record. The NDP government did not promise a new elementary school for Springhill. It was not in the capital plans, news releases or budgets during the 2009-13 NDP government.
The only discussion of Springhill elementary schools on the record of the NDP government was on Oct. 6, 2009. Then-minister Marilyn More confirmed that the NDP was ready to proceed with Springhill elementary school renovations that the Tories had announced just before they lost the 2009 election. The department was waiting to learn how the school board wanted to spend the renovation funds.
The Liberal government is understandably embarrassed that last year they announced a new Springhill school would open in 2021, but last week they said it might be as late as 2024. That is a poor reason for the minister to misdirect attention with an incredible claim about the NDP.
The NDP worked hard to keep all the commitments that had been made for school construction in Cumberland County. Mr. Churchill should focus on keeping his own promises.
Dan O’Connor, Halifax
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