Education Minister Mike Bernier released the following statement in response to the Vancouver school board’s failure to adopt a balanced 2016-17 preliminary budget:

“I’m disappointed in the failure of the Vancouver school board to deliver a balanced budget despite the efforts of some trustees. The board still has the chance to make a decision in the best interest of students before the June 30 deadline to deliver its balanced final budget.

“Right now there is $37 million a year in Vancouver that should be going to essential classroom services that past boards have instead chosen to invest in heating and maintaining empty spaces in classrooms. Today’s failure continues this sad trend in Vancouver.

“We are providing record funding to public education in Vancouver – it’s 20.5 per cent higher than it was in 2001 – even though there are more than 6,000 fewer students. That funding should be going to essential student services not empty seats.”