BCTF Strike

Hon. Peter Fassbender

Minister of Education

BC Legislature

Victoria, BC

Dear Minister:

This is nagging at everyone in the province, in the country actually, while we wait patiently for you and your government to tell us the truth: you are privatizing education. That is your intention. But you refuse to say so out loud. That's lying, by omission. 

The sham negotiations go on year after year where you have no intention of negotiating but bullying your way through another round: take it or leave it! Meanwhile, teachers are overloaded, underpaid–-can we ever pay them enough?–-supplying material out-of-pocket, working long hours, burning out early. 

The privatization of everything in the country is clearly well underway; it can't possibly be unspeakable by now because it's in plain sight. Yet, both the provincial and the federal governments refuse to speak the word that will undoubtedly cost you many votes. 

Taking constituents for fools is hardly a strategy to advance relations in the province where funds are consistently withdrawn from public services. This may be the result of the federal government short changing the province(s), but it is the responsibility of the province to fight for its peoples' needs–-unless, of course, the province concurs. We are a liberal democracy where these services are meant to be protected, not sold off nor are citizens meant to be cut loose. 

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing someone in your government saying clearly that you are privatizing all services, at least, giving us the truth to work with. 

Respectfully,