VICTORIA, B.C.: Macklin McCall, Official Opposition Whip, and Lynne Block, Conservative Critic for Education, are urging the B.C. government to reject the irresponsible calls for a province-wide ban on School Liaison Officers from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Policing-Free Schools Canada. McCall has sent a letter to Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger outlining the importance of the School Liaison Officer program.

“Evidence from Vancouver shows that the School Liaison Officer program has resulted in a decline in negative perceptions of police across all student groups,” said McCall. “I know from my time as an RCMP officer how important it is for police to foster positive relations with youth. They need to know that if they’re ever in trouble, they can come to the police for help.”

“School Liaison Officers are uniquely positioned to provide students with practical, real-world education about dangers like gang recruitment, human trafficking, organized crime, addiction, and victimization, and taking this valuable resource away would do a disservice to B.C. students,” McCall added. “British Columbians deserve an evidence-based discussion on this issue, and students deserve policies grounded in outcomes rather than assumptions.”

“At the end of the day, the priority needs to be the safety of students, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Block. “Removing School Liaison Officers will not improve student safety and will only serve to rob them of a valuable opportunity for mentorship and education. Instead of rashly abolishing the program, B.C. should establish clear provincial standards to ensure it is as helpful as possible.”

“I am calling on the NDP government not to give in to the anti-police agenda of a few radical organizations,” added Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. “School Liaison Officers are doing an important job and B.C.’s students deserve to benefit from the safety they provide, as well as their mentorship and expertise.”

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Nikki Bal
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