PORT COQUITLAM, B.C.: Hazel Trembath Elementary burnt down in 2023, and it took three years for the NDP government to finally get to work rebuilding it.
“We are about to begin yet another school year without a replacement for Hazel Trembath Elementary,” said Misty Van Popta, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure. “Finally beginning construction now is not something that the NDP can claim as a win. Functioning schools are critical to our communities, and when a school gets destroyed, government must make it a priority to immediately begin rebuilding. But the NDP government has proven time and again that it is incapable of moving quickly on urgent public infrastructure projects.”
“The community had to beg the government to do its job,” Van Popta added. “It took two years just to develop a plan, and then another year went by without any progress. There was no reason for it to take so long to get to this point, and the school still needs to be built. This is yet another example of the NDP government failing to deliver the basic infrastructure that British Columbians rely on.”
“Port Coquitlam students deserved better than to wait three years for construction to start on their school,” said Lynne Block, Shadow Minister for Education. “Parents and students have spent three years coping with uncertainty, disruption, and the challenges of learning in temporary accommodations while waiting for this long-overdue commitment.
“The question families are now asking is simple: how much longer will they have to wait? Students, parents, and staff deserve clear timelines and regular updates on when a rebuilt school will finally open its doors. After three years of delays, the community needs confidence that this project will be completed without further setbacks.
“My thoughts are with the students who have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability over the past three years through circumstances that were not of their making. They deserve a safe, modern school close to home, and I hope this announcement marks the beginning of delivering on that promise at last.”
– 30 –