COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – The BC NDP says their rivals across the aisle, the BC Liberals, are failing to help growing communities with essential new infrastructure like schools.

The Opposition held a news conference in Coquitlam earlier today where a school for Burke Mountain has been in the works since 2002 but isn’t scheduled to be opened until 2023.

The party’s Education Critic Rob Fleming says the BC Liberals aren’t living up to their promises to build schools in areas like Surrey, Abbotsford, and Coquitlam.

“What we’re seeing in fast growing communities like this in the Tri-cities here on Burke Mountain, or in Surrey or in the Fraser Valley and in many parts of the province, is an absolute failure by the BC Liberal government and Premier Christy Clark to fulfill promises they’ve made to build schools and complete communities.”

The NDP education critic saying the government failed Burke Mountain pic.twitter.com/fqmZbY1EWs — Kenny Mason (@krmason7) September 9, 2016

“The BC Liberals and Christy Clark are happy to take the taxes paid, all the benefits that flow from fast-growing, high-growth communities like Burke Mountain, but they’re bringing none of the benefits and social infrastructure we need like schools right in the neighbourhood.”

He says the Liberals are focusing on the wrong priorities. “This government has managed to build a new roof on BC Place, but they failed to live up to the promises they made to families to put schools right in their own neighbourhoods.”

He adds capital decisions from Victoria need to be made quicker so parents know what’s happening and that while Christy Clark and company aren’t making these decisions, other provinces are.