By Chris Beach

Northern View

The Northern View: Weber Should Step Down

Oct 11, 2023 | 3:15 PM

Recently there has been some controversy around local School Board Chair Rachael Weber’s nomination as the BC Conservative Party candidate for Prince George-Mackenzie in the upcoming provincial election.

Adding fuel to the fire was Weber’s recent comments about private vs. public education, and questions around some of her other views on the school curriculum. Without question, Weber should resign as Board Chair, because, as a candidate for a political party, there is a clear and undeniable conflict of interest between that partisan role and her current role as the leader of the local public school board.

Yet it’s also been further suggested by some that she isn’t in the right party to be Board Chair, that the views and policies of the BC Conservative Party do not align with the current school curriculum and School District 97 policies.

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But that is simply not correct. It doesn’t matter whether Weber is a candidate for the BC Conservatives, the NDP or the BC United.

The conflict of interest lies in the basic premise that she cannot remain neutral and objective as Board Chair, who should be representing the entire school district, including students, teachers and staff… while at the same time promoting partisan policies and views as a political party candidate.

One cannot say “Oh it’s a conflict of interest because she is running for the BC Conservatives” … suggesting that if only she were running for say the NDP it would be okay because that party is more ideologically aligned with the current curriculum. If it’s a conflict of interest – it’s a conflict of interest – no exceptions, because making an exception based on one’s political preference would be completely hypocritical, negate the whole point, and would be as equally wrong as the person who is in the conflict of interest in the first place.

Fortunately, we have a crystal-clear local example to follow: When Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond entered provincial politics over twenty years ago, she was Board Chair of School District 57.

What did she do when she was announced as a provincial candidate for the then BC Liberals/now BC United? She resigned as Chair but stayed on as a school trustee. Judging by the fact that she was elected shortly thereafter, and has been reelected five times since, it’s safe to say the residents of Prince George agreed with her decision at the time and have continued to respect the principles on which she has conducted herself ever since. I’m Chris Beach and this is the Northern View.

Editors note: The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of Pattison Media.