Dear Editor:
Re: Support Clark in leading B.C., Letters to the Editor, The Record, Feb. 8.
I agree with Ms. Waters that British Columbians deserve strong women leaders and that women's contributions to our society need to be better recognized and respected.
However, I disagree that Premier Christy Clark is the best choice for B.C. premier just because she is a woman.
It is more important that our leaders enact policies that benefit all British Columbians rather than that these policy decisions are made by women.
For instance, when Clark served as Minister of Education, she instigated policies that forced school boards to cut their budgets and blocked teachers from negotiating class size and composition leading to larger classes, less personalized instruction and a general neglect of students with special needs.
As premier, she continues to frustrate teachers' constitutional right to bargain for their own working conditions and class sizes.
Our children deserve more personalized education - not less - and they have been hurt by Premier Clark's policies around education.
In contrast, NDP opposition leader Adrian Dix understands that in the modern economy it is more important than ever to have a well-educated and trained workforce, and he supports investment in both K-12 and post-secondary education in order to strengthen education in British Columbia.
Additionally, New Westminster need look no further than Judy Darcy, NDP candidate for New Westminster in the May 2013 provincial election, for a strong leader.
Ms. Darcy has a long and proven progressive record of leadership in the health and education sectors and will work to strengthen these sectors even further as an MLA.
D. Montgomery, New Westminster
