We are deep into the provincial election campaign now, also known as "promise time." This is when we hear about all sorts of wonderful things that may or may not happen once the election is over.
I don't expect most promises to come to fruition after the election. Let's face it, most of what's said is to be popular. They tell us what we want to hear because that's how they get elected. We rarely hear about reality during a campaign because we don't like reality. We want the fantasy. Reality is what hits when it comes time to run a government, not just talk about it.
But there is one issue that's come up where our candidates can tell us how effective they can be locally. It's regarding the transportation budget for our schools.
The bureaucracy in the Ministry of Education reworked the formula for transportation budgets, and though there were no cuts, the resulting reallocation of funds means a 47 per cent cut to Delta.
Apparently, we are not considered a "rural" community.
Funny, last time I looked at a map I saw three communities separated by a whole lot of rural. Just to be sure my map wasn't out of date, I checked Google Earth.
Yup, a whole lot of rural. Yet all of our school buses are set to be cancelled, except those for special needs students.
Many letters have been sent by our school trustees to the ministry, with no response. That's the part that troubles me - the lack of response. If there are valid reasons for reducing our budget, I won't like it, but I'll live with it. This time, however, it seems the wrong information has been used to reach a decision. And no one is willing to talk with us about it.
The trustees are in a tough position - they can't take funding away from teachers or EAs to support buses, and raising a massive stink could compromise other initiatives they have underway. You can only bring out the pitchforks and torches so often.
As a trustee candidate in the last municipal election, I heard lots of new candidates promise increased budgets, or that they would fight hard for this or that. The incumbents (most of whom were re-elected) knew what they were dealing with, so they were a little more reserved, and rightfully so. I don't expect them to magically resolve universal problems within the education system, nor do I expect our MLA to solve them either.
What I do expect is for our MLA to help the school district get a conversation started with the bureaucracy by opening a door that seems so firmly shut. They can't get it resolved if they can't get it started.
To me, this is a great opportunity for our provincial candidates in both ridings to show how effective they can be for Delta. We send you to Victoria to help manage our province, but also look out for us here. Opposition, government or independent, what can you do to help our trustees when they are being ignored?
I'm not asking for much, just the promise of a discussion. And hopefully a little reality to follow.
