Release cabinet documents on teachers’ case, NDP demands

NEWS — It was the first Question Period of the new B.C. legislative session today and, on one issue, at least, the answer was the same. Over and over.

NDP leader Adrian Dix led the charge in demanding Premier Christy Clark release confidential cabinet documents viewed by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin when she ruled in favour of teachers against class-size legislation.

He was followed by several other NDP MLAs, all asking the same thing in different ways, but Clark was silent through the whole thing, letting Justice Minister Suzanne Anton field the questions.

Some 11 times, Anton replied with little variation that “This matter is before the courts. That’s where the matter should be heard.”

The NDP pointed out that Clark has been talking about the government’s appeal of the court ruling to news outlets such as CHNL in Kamloops and CKNW in Vancouver, and wrote a letter to teachers as well.

Since Clark is discussing the appeal publicly, she should be willing to release the documents, they said.

Griffin said in her ruling that the legislation on class sizes — a bone of contention during bargaining — was unconstitutional, and fined the government $2 million.

The New Democrats hammered away in the House today, at times reading from court transcripts to back up their argument that the public deserves to see the confidential documents.

NDP MLAs accused Clark of using education “as a play thing” and for “political gain,” but Anton didn’t budge, and the subject eventually changed to Tuesday’s throne speech.

Clark has denied the government tried to provoke a strike.