September 4, 2024, Surrey, BC - Linda Hepner, BC Conservative candidate for Surrey Serpentine-River, has launched a scathing attack on Premier David Eby and the BC NDP government for what she calls a blatant betrayal of Surrey families. The Surrey School District has been forced to gut its transportation budget by over 50%, leaving hundreds of families—especially those with disabled children—without any means to get their kids to school.
“This is nothing short of cruel,” Hepner declared. “David Eby and his government have slashed essential school bus services, abandoning our most vulnerable children. These families relied on these services to ensure their kids could safely attend school, and now they’re left with nothing. Eby’s decision is heartless and reckless.”
With the district’s transportation budget cut from $7.5 million to a mere $3 million, more than 500 families have been informed that their children no longer qualify for school transportation, even those with severe needs. Parents like Christina Fitzpatrick, whose son with autism can no longer access school buses, are now scrambling to find a way to keep their jobs while ensuring their children can attend school.
“This is a crisis of Eby’s making,” Hepner continued. “His government’s priorities are completely backwards. Instead of ensuring that Surrey’s rapidly growing population has the resources it needs, he’s cutting lifelines for our children. This is not just mismanagement; it’s a dereliction of duty.”
Hepner emphasized that these cuts are the direct result of the NDP government’s failure to provide adequate funding for Surrey’s booming student population, forcing the district to make impossible choices.
“David Eby’s negligence is hurting real people—families who are now forced to choose between their jobs and their children’s education. This is unacceptable. A BC Conservative government will never let our children’s education and safety be compromised by such reckless decisions. We will fully fund essential services and ensure no child is left behind,” Hepner concluded.
-30-
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Do you like this page?
