How can Surrey schools keep up with the city's booming population?
Surrey schools are on track to see a $16-million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. The Surrey Board of Education says that's because provincial funding is not keeping pace with inflation and rapid population growth. The Early Edition's Stephen Quinn spoke with school board chair Gary Tymoschuk about the issue.
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Young CAQ members attack unions at their convention in Lévis
At their convention in Lévis on Saturday, young Coalition Avenir Québec members said unions engage in 'undemocratic' practices, echoing arguments put forward by the Legault government. They deplored assemblies with 'prohibitive conditions,' 'radical' positions, and a 'lack of transparency' in how dues are used. Education Minister Bernard Drainville has made similar comments and continues to attack the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE), which he claims has become a 'political movement.' The FAE is challenging Bill 21 in court, which prohibits certain government employees, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols, upsetting the Legault government. In a brief speech on Saturday, Drainville expressed his delight that the CAQ's new generation, which he describes as a 'spark plug,' is tackling trade unionism and giving a 'good kick to the hornet's nest.' 'Is it normal for a union like the FAE to call an unlimited general strike without a strike fund, but have the money to challenge Bill 21?' he asked. 'Something is not right. Why are we letting them do this? ... A union is not a political party,' said the outgoing president of the youth wing, Aurélie Diep, in a similar vein. The theme of Saturday's convention borrows an expression often used by Premier François Legault: 'It's going to shake things up.' At the end of the discussion, the young CAQ members adopted three proposals: Restrict the use of membership fees ... so that they are not used for partisan purposes Make it mandatory to publish detailed information on the expenses of union and student associations. Submit resolutions ... authorizing the calling of a strike, the adoption of a position or an expense that does not fall within their mission to a majority vote of all their members. Both the vice-president of the Quebec Student Union, Audrey Fortin, and the president of the FAE, Mélanie Hubert, reacted on Saturday by accusing the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of hypocrisy. 'It's fascinating to be lectured on democracy by a party that, at 4:30 this morning, passed a law under gag order,' Hubert said in a phone interview. 'The CAQ was elected with 41 per cent of the vote in 2022 when 66 per cent of the population voted,' she recalled. For her part, Fortin noted that barely 100 young CAQ members were present in the room to vote on the proposals that were submitted. Developing defence and mining In addition to addressing trade union issues, the young CAQ members discussed the economy, bureaucratic streamlining and internships abroad. In particular, they propose 'developing the defence industry in Quebec and focusing on this high value-added sector to diversify the Quebec economy.' They also want to 'reduce red tape in the mining sector by 50 per cent to make it easier than ever to exploit our critical and strategic minerals.' Meanwhile, Legault is scheduled to deliver a speech on Saturday afternoon following the election of a new executive. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French June 7, 2025. Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
CTV News
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New Wheatley plans pave path for a revitalized downtown
Officials released new plans on Saturday to breathe new life into Wheatley, almost four years after the explosion. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Nearly four years after an explosion rocked the community of Wheatley, officials are charting a course to turn the wreckage into a welcoming space. Residents gathered at the explosion site in the downtown core Saturday morning for the release of the new conceptual plans. 'This town rallied, it supported neighbours, it asked hard questions, it collaborated and above all, it never gave up on what could be,' Darrin Canniff, the Mayor of Chatham-Kent, told a crowd of more than 200 people. 070625 About 200 people walked the lot in downtown Wheatley, where an explosion levelled several buildings in 2021. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Dignitaries from all three levels of government and representatives from frontline stakeholders spoke on the lengthy recovery process needed to restore Wheatley. Moving forward, Canniff predicted the town would become the fastest-growing community in Chatham-Kent. 'We're here today to dream a dream of the future of Wheatley, of what it can be,' Canniff said. 'I believe in this community that five years, ten years from now, we will look back and say, wow, look at how amazing this community is.' On July 19, 2021, an emergency was declared in Wheatley following the detection of Hydrogen Sulfide gas. The following month, on Aug. 26, an explosion occurred at 15 Erie Street North and expanded the emergency evacuation zone. In 2024, following site demolition, a successful investigation, and the plugging of an uncovered well, municipal officials deemed the emergency order over. Developed by Fotenn Planning and Design, two conceptual plan options released on Saturday feature a heavy incorporation of green space, gardens and places for people to gather. The space would be anchored by the many small businesses that fill the downtown core. Howard Gabert, the chair of the Wheatley Task Force, told CTV News they are still working to decide the fate of existing infrastructure on the property. As of Saturday, a scrubbing system and an abandoned wellhead were still visible at the site. 'So, that's what the two designs are, one of them retains it on an above-ground structure for managing the scrubber system, while the other one has a design that doesn't incorporate all of that,' Gabert said. Last year, council approved the acquisition of buildings affected by the explosion, beginning the demolition process and paving the way forward for a streamlined process. Because of Wheatley's ties to the water and fishing, one design plans for a boat in the park's core. Gabert said the designs are heavily fuelled by community feedback they've received. 'I think what you see in the design is elements of appreciation for nature, you'll have systems that are going to integrate into the community and to be what we're referring to as Wheatley's backyard,' Gabert added. After a long road, Gabert said they are looking forward to moving past the 'tragic' event. With solidified funding from the province, Gabert said there's hope work can begin in the coming months while they continue to solidify the final design. -With files from CTV's Chris Campbell.
