NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) continued to press the government today in the House of Assembly on the serious deficiencies in school infrastructure across the province. Following questions earlier this week about concerning conditions in many schools, Dinn said government must show far greater commitment to ensuring students and staff are learning and working in safe environments.
When questioned about ongoing delays in school maintenance, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure responded that “it’s a constant battle of keeping ahead of the stuff” – a comment Dinn says falls far short of the leadership and urgency students, parents, and educators deserve.
“Speaker, in 2023, the MHA for Conception Bay South called conditions at Frank Roberts Junior High School deplorable and unacceptable, that “enough is enough,” and called on government to complete a full health and safety inspection. So, I was surprised to hear in the Minister’s response to my question on a school safety audit the same shop-worn bureaucratic excuses,” Dinn said.
“In light of the tragic events at Tumbler Ridge, I ask again: has his department completed a health and safety audit of the province’s schools to identify deficiencies that could affect the health and safety of staff and students, and if not why not?”
Dinn followed up by highlighting how school communities have been forced to step in and take action themselves due to the government’s failure to address these issues in a timely and adequate way.
“Well, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association is not waiting for the Minister to do his job. They’ve sent out their own safety infrastructure survey of school. I ask the Minister; will he have his department complete a health and safety infrastructure audit of our schools and present the findings to the House of Assembly before the end of May 2026 along with a plan to correct those deficiencies?”