(September 20, 2024, St. John’s) – Paul Dinn, PC Shadow Minister for Education and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, has voiced renewed concerns following another troubling incident of a potential school tragedy, further eroding public confidence in the safety of Newfoundland and Labrador’s education system.

Dinn was responding to reports this week of a teenager charged with possessing weapons at Waterford Valley High in St. John’s. He recalled the 2023 axe attack by a group of teens at Prince of Wales Collegiate (PWC), which shocked the province.

“Where is the Minister of Education?” asked Dinn. “Yet again, we are facing a serious school safety issue, and the Department remains silent, hiding behind prepared statements. This is the same silence we've seen in response to failures in student assistant support, the bussing chaos, and overcrowded classrooms. Families, students, and staff deserve better.”

Dinn pointed to the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (NLTA) President’s reaction, calling the Waterford Valley High incident “very alarming.” Earlier this year, the NLTA reported that teachers face an average of 29 violent incidents in schools every day.

“All we hear from the Liberals is silence. Has a comprehensive school safety audit been conducted? Have security measures been increased since the last incident? Whatever happened to the Safe and Caring Schools Policy? It was supposed to be reviewed after the PWC attack last year, but since then, we've heard nothing.”

Dinn also highlighted the Minister’s comments at a public meeting in Kenmount Terrace in June, where she stated there was “violence in all schools.”

“Have the Liberals thrown up their hands and given up? The NLTA proposed the creation of a School Safety Coalition, but the Furey government remains unresponsive. Are they waiting for another study or report before acting? We risk facing a major tragedy before this government wakes up to the seriousness of the issue.”

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