A White Rock dad who spoke out last month about concerns with the province91裸聊视频檚 back-to-school plan is now one of two fathers taking the government to court over the matter.

READ MORE:

Bernard Trest said Wednesday (Aug. 26) that the B.C. Supreme Court claim was filed on behalf of himself and Gary Shuster in Chilliwack that morning 91裸聊视频� and that the legal action shouldn91裸聊视频檛 come as a surprise to the leaders of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 health and education ministries.

91裸聊视频淭hey must91裸聊视频檝e known this was going to happen,91裸聊视频� Trest told Peace Arch News.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no way you can introduce a plan this ridiculous and this dangerous and not know that someone is going to file a lawsuit against you and try to stop it.91裸聊视频�

Ministry of Education officials on July 29 announced B.C.91裸聊视频檚 plan for a return to school in September, noting much of the plan will be up to individual school districts.

Under provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry91裸聊视频檚 guidelines, schools are to open with cohorts of up to 120 at the secondary level and 60 for elementary students. Face masks will be required for students and staff in middle and high school while in high-traffic areas, such as on buses and in hallways, but will be optional for elementary students.

In Surrey, the model put forward includes cohorts Supt. Jordan Tinney has described as 91裸聊视频渕uch smaller.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE:

According to Trest and Shuster91裸聊视频檚 notice of application, reopening without stronger risk-mitigation measures 91裸聊视频� including smaller class sizes, mandatory masking and physical distancing within groups 91裸聊视频� to protect students and teachers against COVID-19 is 91裸聊视频渦nconscionable,91裸聊视频� and they want the court to block the step from proceeding until such measures are in place.

91裸聊视频淪chool boards don91裸聊视频檛 know how to handle this plan,91裸聊视频� Trest said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 really no plan in place.91裸聊视频�

Trest 91裸聊视频� who started a Facebook page with his 10-year-old son Max last month to rally others with similar concerns 91裸聊视频� told PAN at that time that the science around COVID-19 does not back the return-to-school plan, and puts students at too great a risk.

Wednesday, he said that data released in the past month has only strengthened that position.

91裸聊视频淪ince we91裸聊视频檝e spoken91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 much more evidence, there91裸聊视频檚 much more science, and the government, they91裸聊视频檙e refusing to acknowledge it,91裸聊视频� Trest said.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not a single one individual that91裸聊视频檚 said this plan is a good idea. Even (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau91裸聊视频� he91裸聊视频檚 questioning whether he91裸聊视频檚 going to send his kids to school.91裸聊视频�

Six people, including Trest and Shuster, have filed affidavits in support of the court application.

Attorney Kailin Che of Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae cited Trest91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渨idely shared91裸聊视频� concerns for his son and the community in explaining why her firm took on the case.

91裸聊视频淓veryone in BC has an interest in seeing the province safe and healthy,91裸聊视频� Che told PAN by email.

91裸聊视频淲e cannot reopen the economy and schools with insufficient measures in place. We cannot do nothing, and expect things to be okay. The old adage better safe than sorry rings more true during these exceptional times more than ever. It costs very little for the government to take the recommended precautions to keep schools safe.91裸聊视频�

She noted that Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae is also representing a B.C. doctor in a case filed a few weeks prior 91裸聊视频渄ealing with similar concerns but on a broader level (not exclusive to schools).91裸聊视频�

Wednesday morning, Trudeau announced a $2 billion 91裸聊视频楽afe Return to Class91裸聊视频� fund, 91裸聊视频渢o help keep students and teachers safe as schools reopen.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE:

He described it as flexible funding that can be used for anything from hand sanitizer to remote-learning options, but exactly how it may be applied in individual districts 91裸聊视频� or how much, if any, each district might receive 91裸聊视频� is unclear.

91裸聊视频淲hat (the provinces) choose to do is up to them91裸聊视频� but we know there is more to do,91裸聊视频� Trudeau said.

B.C. is to receive $242.36 million.

Health ministry officials were not immediately able to respond to a request for comment; Education Minister Rob Fleming, during a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, said he was 91裸聊视频渘ot aware91裸聊视频� of the lawsuit.

A further statement from the education ministry notes the province has not yet been served with the lawsuit, 91裸聊视频渟o cannot comment on the specific concerns it raises, and does not comment on matters that are before the courts.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e continue to be guided by the health and safety advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry and her public health team,91裸聊视频� the statement adds.

91裸聊视频� with files from Katya Slepian

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
Like us on and follow us on