Advocacy

At BCSTA’s spring annual general meeting members decide on the advocacy directions their Association will carry out the following year.

Based on the resolutions coming out of AGM, these advocacy efforts have a major impact on government policies and decisions relating to K-12 students. BCSTA advocates for boards of education by meeting and corresponding with key leaders in education and by raising public awareness. Review BCSTA’s strategic plan for more details on our ongoing advocacy work.

BCSTA’s Strategic Plan

Recent Advocacy Letters

Below you will find some of BCSTA’s most recent letters and correspondence with provincial government and other organizations to advocate for the actions outlined in our resolutions. If you wish to review advocacy content beyond this preview, you can do so by clicking the “view more advocacy letters” button below.
view more advocacy letters

Advocacy: Vape Awareness and Vape Cessation Resources for Youth Response

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[Received February 21, 2020] Director General Van Loon to President Higginson: “The Government of Canada is very concerned about the rapid rise in youth vaping. We are taking further action, including putting in place additional controls through regulations, investing in public education and intensifying enforcement of the legislation.”

Advocacy: School Site Acquisitions

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[Sent January 20, 2020] President Higginson to Minister of Education Fleming: “The enclosed discussion paper identifies several specific concerns about school site acquisitions and lists recommendations for government consideration which are intended to address those concerns. The paper was developed as a result of engagement with every Board of Education and input from several boards.”

Advocacy: Vape Awareness and Vape Cessation Resources for Youth

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[Sent November 7, 2019] President Higginson to Federal Minister of Health Petitpas Taylor, BC Minister of Health Dix and BC Minister of Education Fleming: “The motion was passed unanimously by BCSTA’s membership and serves to highlight the overwhelming concerns our members have regarding the prevalence of vaping in BC’s public schools. While the true extent of

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Advocacy: Funding for Menstrual Product Dispensers – Response

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[Received Oct 28, 2019] Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier James to President Higginson:  “As you may be aware, a ministerial order was issued in April 2019 by the Minister of Education that required public schools to provide free menstrual products for students in school washrooms by the end of 2019. At that time, $300,000 in provincial

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