Thursday, NDP Leader Ryan Meili called out Education Minister Gord Wyant, after saying Wyant claimed that up to $200 million, the government’s entire 2020 contingency fund, could be made available to school divisions that requested it.

Meili says at no point have the Minister or the Premier indicated that more funding would be made available for schools in September. He adds the government has certainly not given any added funds to deal with what needs to be dealt with, such as decreasing class sizes, having real plan, addressing the need for physical distancing and the need for any physical upgrades to schools.

Meili claims the Education Minister is gaslighting school divisions and families.

Meili noted that school divisions were already forced to make cuts prior to COVID-19, with per-student funding cut by over $300 since 2015/16. The NDP also state that School Division officials have made it clear on the public record that the government has not come up with additional funding for this school year. Pointing out a report to the Board of Saskatoon Public Schools by Board Chair Colleen MacPherson that said that the provincial budget is not enough to balance the school budget for the coming year.