BCTF provides strong support for Jennifer Rice's Safe Water for School's Act

As we noted on the blog yesterday, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice moved her campaign for safe drinking water in the schools of British Columbia to a new level, introducing a private members bill in the Legislature on Thursday Morning.

The proposed legislation from the North Coast MLA calls for the creation of a mandatory system of water testing and mitigation for the province's schools.

Her quest to bring the issue to the attention of both sides of the House has also found some strong support from the Union that represents the Province's teachers, with the BCTF issuing a statement of support on Thursday urging the government to act on the North Coast MLA's bill.

“Schools must be a safe place for all children, youth, and staff,” ... “That's why teachers are very supportive of legislation that will help protect our schools from contaminated drinking water. I hope the provincial government will support this important and practical private member's bill.” -- BCTF President Jim Iker offering support for MLA Jennifer Rice's Private Member's Bill introduced on Thursday.

You can review the full statement from the BCTF here.

The contamination issue in Prince Rupert schools first came to the attention of parents in February when School District 52 sent home this advisory on the situation.

More on the SD52 situation can be found on our School District archive page.

Since that time, Ms. Rice has raised the issue repeatedly in the Legislature, expanding her original concerns about her home riding, to seek testing for all schools across British Columbia.

Some of her contributions to the discussion can be found from our Legislature Archive page here.