HALIFAX, NS – Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie is renewing his call for Premier McNeil to fire Education Minister Karen Casey for her incompetent and unethical handling of the education system and the teacher contract negotiations.
Baillie says she must be held accountable because she’s poisoned the workplace in our schools and parents, students and teachers no longer trust her to come to a reasonable resolution on this impasse.
Today, Baillie’s Progressive Conservatives launched an online petition urging the Premier to remove Casey. It can be found here. He wants all Nova Scotians to join him in urging Premier McNeil to fire Karen Casey.
“The Minister must be held accountable for this mess. She’s poisoned the workplace in our schools. She used students as pawns in a political game,” said Baillie. “Not only did she sacrifice the education of our young people, but she jeopardized their safety by cancelling classes on a whim. The Minister has lost the moral authority to manage her department.”
Yesterday, Premier McNeil hid for most of the day as these events unfolded. Late in the evening, he appeared in a sit-down interview with CTV’s Steve Murphy where he rejected widespread rumours of a caucus revolt. Many Liberal MLAs were said to be opposed to the Premier and the Minister’s terrible decision. Baillie says those Liberal MLAs should do the right thing by signing this petition and letting their voices be heard.
“It’s clear there were Liberal MLAs ready to stand up to the Minister and the Premier,” said Baillie. “They should put their money where their mouth is by signing our petition today.”
Baillie says the Progressive Conservatives will continue to fight for meaningful reforms that puts students first.