School District 43's superintendent said a meeting that took place during the Coquitlam-Burke Mountain byelection just days before the vote was held was not a bid to endorse a particular candidate or political party.
The photo in which Patricia Gartland was shown standing alongside BC Liberal candidate Joan Isaacs and Mike Bernier, the minister of Education, as well as two school board members, was posted on Isaacs' Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 29.
In the photo, that included board chair Judy Shirra, a Port Coquitlam trustee, and Barb Hobson, a Coquitlam trustee, the group is standing in front of candidate election signs.
Isaacs' posts stated that she will "work with — not against our local school district and trustees on their priorities to deliver in Victoria. Progress means building relationships, welcoming new technologies and keeping the conversation productive.
"Thank you Minister Bernier, superintendent Gartland, and local school trustees for your time."
The post also includes a quote from Gartland: "We're looking forward to partnerships in technology. I'm pleased the Province is moving forward on this."
In a statement to The Tri-City News, Gartland said the meeting was an "opportunity to meet with the Education Minister to advocate for our school district’s needs when he was in our community."
Candidates for the Green Party, the NDP and the Libertarian Party were not part of the meeting, and all three candidates have been critical of the BC Liberal government.
Jodie Wickens, the BC NDP candidate, issued a press release on Jan. 18, for example, with quotes from NDP leader John Horgan and education critic Rob Fleming stating that Coquitlam school children receive almost $600 less in per-student funding than the provincial average.
Results for today's election will be available after 8 p.m.
