Quesnel’s Board of Education unanimously endorsed a motion by the BC School Trustees Association that calls on the federal government to take action on the opioid crisis.
Trustee Julie-Anne Runge is the Chair of the Board’s BCSTA Committee.
“That BCSTA requests that the Canadian School Board Association urge the government of Canada to A. declare the toxic drug supply crisis a National Public Health Emergency. And B. Immediately seek input from the people most effected by this crisis, and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive pan Canadian Overdose action plan.”
The Board is also advocating for expanded provincial cross ministry supports for students around substance abuse.
Board Chair Tony Goulet was among those that supported the motion.
“I think we need to move forward and put pressure on the government to work on that strategy and that pan Canadian overdose action plan.  I think those are very important pieces for us to move forward on the opioid crisis, so definitely would support this. And also to support it around our students and what that looks like as well.”
That was one of three motions that the Board endorsed.
The others were that the BC School Trustees Association write a letter to all BC education degree granting institutes to request that the intake of education students be increased to help address the teacher shortage, and one that calls on the province to increase funding for the annual facilities grant.