Dear Editor,
Re: “MLAs should stand up or step down,” Letters, Sept. 28.
We hope to address and clarify a few points with respect to Ms. Nowitsky’s letter to the editor.
Over the years, we have visited numerous public schools in Richmond. We have talked to students, teachers and parents, and understand how important it is to ensure our children’s learning environment is safe and secured.
That is why our government has launched the seismic mitigation program to make schools safer in the event of an earthquake.
So far, the province has spent $1.12 billion through the Seismic Mitigation Program to complete 155 high-risk seismic projects throughout British Columbia, which includes three public schools in the Richmond School District. They are the Garden City elementary school, Samuel Brighouse elementary school and Steveston–London secondary school.
The province also provided a letter to the Richmond School District on May 24, 2016 requesting the school district complete the project definition reports for both Hugh Boyd secondary and Cook elementary in order to advance work on both those schools.
This work is critical to defining the scope and costs to allow for funding consideration and future approval. We understand the school district is working hard to advance this work.
We also currently have another $560 million allocated for high-risk seismic projects in our three-year capital plan.
Our Seismic Mitigation Program is globally recognized and will ensure all high-risk schools are upgraded or replaced.
The money is available to all high-risk schools and the pace of projects is largely dependent on how quickly and efficiently local school boards map out their priorities and deliver on upgrades.
We want to ensure our constituents that funding is available for all high-risk schools in B.C., which include those in Richmond.
The safety of students and staff is paramount. Our government will continue to make sure this program delivers as many seismic upgrades as soon as possible.
Teresa Wat, Linda Reid and John Yap
MLAs for Richmond Centre, Richmond East and Richmond-Steveston
