A White Rock dad who spoke out last month about concerns with the province香蕉视频直播檚 back-to-school plan is now one of two fathers taking the government to court over the matter.
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Bernard Trest said Wednesday (Aug. 26) that the B.C. Supreme Court claim was filed on behalf of himself and Gary Shuster in Chilliwack that morning 香蕉视频直播� and that the legal action shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 come as a surprise to the leaders of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 health and education ministries.
香蕉视频直播淭hey must香蕉视频直播檝e known this was going to happen,香蕉视频直播� Trest told Peace Arch News.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no way you can introduce a plan this ridiculous and this dangerous and not know that someone is going to file a lawsuit against you and try to stop it.香蕉视频直播�
Ministry of Education officials on July 29 announced B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 plan for a return to school in September, noting much of the plan will be up to individual school districts.
Under provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry香蕉视频直播檚 guidelines, schools are to open with cohorts of up to 120 at the secondary level and 60 for elementary students. Face masks will be required for students and staff in middle and high school while in high-traffic areas, such as on buses and in hallways, but will be optional for elementary students.
In Surrey, the model put forward includes cohorts Supt. Jordan Tinney has described as 香蕉视频直播渕uch smaller.香蕉视频直播�
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According to Trest and Shuster香蕉视频直播檚 notice of application, reopening without stronger risk-mitigation measures 香蕉视频直播� including smaller class sizes, mandatory masking and physical distancing within groups 香蕉视频直播� to protect students and teachers against COVID-19 is 香蕉视频直播渦nconscionable,香蕉视频直播� and they want the court to block the step from proceeding until such measures are in place.
香蕉视频直播淪chool boards don香蕉视频直播檛 know how to handle this plan,香蕉视频直播� Trest said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 really no plan in place.香蕉视频直播�
Trest 香蕉视频直播� who started a Facebook page with his 10-year-old son Max last month to rally others with similar concerns 香蕉视频直播� told PAN at that time that the science around COVID-19 does not back the return-to-school plan, and puts students at too great a risk.
Wednesday, he said that data released in the past month has only strengthened that position.
香蕉视频直播淪ince we香蕉视频直播檝e spoken香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 much more evidence, there香蕉视频直播檚 much more science, and the government, they香蕉视频直播檙e refusing to acknowledge it,香蕉视频直播� Trest said.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 not a single one individual that香蕉视频直播檚 said this plan is a good idea. Even (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau香蕉视频直播� he香蕉视频直播檚 questioning whether he香蕉视频直播檚 going to send his kids to school.香蕉视频直播�
Six people, including Trest and Shuster, have filed affidavits in support of the court application.
Attorney Kailin Che of Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae cited Trest香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渨idely shared香蕉视频直播� concerns for his son and the community in explaining why her firm took on the case.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone in BC has an interest in seeing the province safe and healthy,香蕉视频直播� Che told PAN by email.
香蕉视频直播淲e cannot reopen the economy and schools with insufficient measures in place. We cannot do nothing, and expect things to be okay. The old adage better safe than sorry rings more true during these exceptional times more than ever. It costs very little for the government to take the recommended precautions to keep schools safe.香蕉视频直播�
She noted that Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae is also representing a B.C. doctor in a case filed a few weeks prior 香蕉视频直播渄ealing with similar concerns but on a broader level (not exclusive to schools).香蕉视频直播�
Wednesday morning, Trudeau announced a $2 billion 香蕉视频直播楽afe Return to Class香蕉视频直播� fund, 香蕉视频直播渢o help keep students and teachers safe as schools reopen.香蕉视频直播�
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He described it as flexible funding that can be used for anything from hand sanitizer to remote-learning options, but exactly how it may be applied in individual districts 香蕉视频直播� or how much, if any, each district might receive 香蕉视频直播� is unclear.
香蕉视频直播淲hat (the provinces) choose to do is up to them香蕉视频直播� but we know there is more to do,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said.
B.C. is to receive $242.36 million.
Health ministry officials were not immediately able to respond to a request for comment; Education Minister Rob Fleming, during a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, said he was 香蕉视频直播渘ot aware香蕉视频直播� of the lawsuit.
A further statement from the education ministry notes the province has not yet been served with the lawsuit, 香蕉视频直播渟o cannot comment on the specific concerns it raises, and does not comment on matters that are before the courts.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e continue to be guided by the health and safety advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry and her public health team,香蕉视频直播� the statement adds.
香蕉视频直播� with files from Katya Slepian
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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