April 28, 2005
NDP Leader Wrong to Support Politics in the Classroom – Christensen
Vancouver – Carole James has admitted on CFAX Radio this morning that she endorses using public school resources for partisan political fundraising, said Education Minister Tom Christensen.
“Distributing fundraising letters on NDP letterhead in public schools is wrong by any standard and Carole James is wrong to defend it,” said Christensen. “It’s doubly wrong that the NDP candidate abused her position as head of the local teachers’ union to solicit political donations in schools.
The NDP leader refused to discipline her Nanaimo-Parksville candidate, Carol McNamee, for distributing an NDP fundraising letter through an internal school mailbox system. The matter was so serious that the Nanaimo School Board subsequently passed a motion prohibiting distribution of these kinds of political fundraising letters.
“Carole James can’t see or won’t admit that deliberately distributing NDP fundraising letters inside public schools is wrong. The NDP are treating our public schools as campaign offices,” said Christensen. “The Nanaimo School Board passed a motion to stop the practice, but Carole James insists on putting the partisan political interests of the NDP first.”
Christensen noted that the NDP candidate has stated that she is only on leave from her position as head of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association – it is unclear if she will return to her position after the election.
“These circumstances raise even more questions about the appropriateness of the NDP candidate’s actions. Some teachers may be wondering if it’s appropriate for the NDP candidate – who may be coming back to take charge of their local union – to ask them for donations in their workplace.”
