On second thought…
They blinked. A more apt description might be capitulation. Or a desperate attempt to ensure political survival. The P.E.I. government looked at angry faces during packed meetings across P.E.I., its dropping poll numbers and opposition inside its own caucus and cabinet. And it decided that closing schools is not such a good idea after all.
The premier felt he had no option but to concede.
The reprieve announced Tuesday morning at a hastily-called news conference – following a meeting of cabinet - was greeted with tears and cheers in Georgetown and the St. Jean neighbourhood of Charlottetown. It was similar to the reaction the night before in Belfast, St. Louis and Bloomfield. Populism won. People power won. ‘We the West’ and ‘Rural Strong’ won. Marches and demonstrations in snow, cold and on a provincial holiday displayed a firm resolve rarely seen before. Analytics, cold facts and figures and reports were sent packing to the backroom.
The government felt that its positive economic message was being lost. The bleeding had to stop and quickly. The legislature was about to open. It was time to move on.
The process suggested it was a rural vs. urban issue – that capital city bureaucrats were closing rural schools. And the greatest betrayal of all was coming from inside the premier’s office, where the chair of the inaugural Georgetown Conference - mandated to revitalize rural communities – was sitting. What does Tuesday’s decision say to members of the Public Schools Branch (PSB) and its board of directors who did their job – to the best of their ability - on the review of schools? And to fulfill its mandate that ‘students have equitable opportunities to learn and resources are being used effectively.’
The reversal of the board’s recommendations can only be considered a stunning retreat by government, personal setbacks for Premier Wade MacLauchlan and Education Minister Doug Currie and a public rebuff for the PSB. It was Mr. Currie who started the process by saying the status quo was unacceptable and tough decisions had to be made. And it’s another example of the reluctance by the premier to make hard decisions. His refusal to set a new course on electoral reform is another example.
Islanders are left wondering if the whole process was for naught? Was it all a colossal waste of time and money? There must be a better way to decide the issue of closures than to put parents and children through a prolonged emotional wringer. This has been going on since last October.
As the premier noted, the process proved that Islanders care deeply and passionately about their communities and their schools. And there is a positive and exciting development - it appears that government wants to channel rural passion into rural revitalization.
Not only will all schools stay open but new student supports will be introduced across the province and four regional economic development councils will be established where youth entrepreneurship will be a central theme. Government wants to turn its reversal into a victory for rural P.E.I. This way, both sides win.