NDP challenges province over redacted school condition records

The Ministry of Education said the records were redacted under provisions of Saskatchewan’s freedom of information legislation and that the applicant was informed which sections of the legislation were used.

“The ministry is committed to meeting its obligations under FOI legislation while also protecting information that is exempt from disclosure under the Act,” the ministry said in a statement.

The issue was brought to Prince Albert on Thursday, with the NDP pointing to local school infrastructure needs, including Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division’s capital priorities.

They said the division has identified replacing École Arthur Pechey and a major renovation and renewal of Carlton Comprehensive High School among its priorities.

Love stressed he was not suggesting either school is unsafe.

“No, I’m not saying those are unsafe,” he said. “What I’m saying is that this government doesn’t want the public to know. And that is concerning in itself.”

Saskatchewan Rivers Director of Education Neil Finch told paNOW the division’s infrastructure is currently in good condition, crediting work by its facilities department and provincial preventative maintenance funding.

At the same time, he acknowledged the division’s buildings are aging.

Finch said Saskatchewan Rivers has facility plans for all of its schools and provides facility accountability reports during public board meetings at least once a year. The division prioritizes requests for new schools and major projects before submitting them to the province for consideration.

The Ministry of Education said school divisions submit major and minor capital applications each year and those requests are prioritized through a consistent process, with health and safety receiving the highest priority.

Love, however, argued there is not enough information available publicly about how those decisions are ultimately made.

“There should be very clear criteria so that we can have some certainty that decisions are being made on where the most help is needed, where are new schools needed in this province, where are repairs and maybe some minor projects needed in this province,” he said.

He also questioned whether school divisions and the public have enough information about how projects move up the government’s priority list.

“School divisions are often kept in the dark in terms of what they need to do to rise to the top and to get the needs met in the buildings where their students attend,” Love said.

The province said its 2026-27 budget includes $65 million for the Preventative Maintenance and Renewal program, maintaining the funding level reached last year following a $15-million increase.

For larger renovations or repairs valued at more than $1 million, divisions can apply through major capital and minor capital renewal programs.

Since 2008, the province said it has invested approximately $2.9 billion in school infrastructure, supporting 78 new schools, 32 major renovations and 17 minor renovations. Of those, 54 new schools, 28 major renovations and seven minor renovations have been completed.

Prince Albert has also received additional relocatable classrooms to address enrolment pressures.

Finch said relocatables have been useful when the division has experienced enrolment growth, although obtaining them has become more difficult. Building additions on existing school sites can be another option.

Love said the larger issue remains access to the information the province uses when making infrastructure decisions.

“I think that people across the province, in Prince Albert and across Saskatchewan, should be able to trust that their government is being honest with them,” he said. “And if they’re withholding information, it’s very hard to trust that the government is being honest.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

by paNOW Staff

NDP challenges province over redacted school condition records

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