For Immediate Release: October 21, 2024
SASK. PARTY CANDIDATE CONFESSES THAT SCOTT MOE DISRESPECTED TEACHERS
Muhammed Fiaz, in a leaked audio recording, slammed Scott Moe’s billboard attack on teachers, admits class sizes are massive, and says students are ‘sitting on the floor’.
SASKATOON - Leaked audio from a January meeting with a Sask. Party MLA shows Scott Moe’s own team members don’t support his record on education, and one of his MLAs conceded that the Sask. Party leader has been “disrespectful” to teachers.
Muhammed Fiaz, Sask. Party candidate for Regina Pasqua, in a damning clip recorded by a constituent and local teacher, agreed that the billboards his own party put up attacking teachers were disrespectful and even talked about his own son’s highschool having problematically large classrooms and not enough desks.
In the audio, Fiaz says, responding to the billboards attacking teachers: "I totally agree with you. It was disrespectful, and I'm speaking myself … (it takes) big courage to tell you that was not appropriate stuff by my government and I acknowledge that.”
And he goes on to describe the situation detailed by his own son in Saskatchewan classrooms, saying: “Thirty-five kids (in a classroom) in Campbell, is insane. People are sitting on the floor.”
He also mentioned a tweet from Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill that targeted teachers, agreeing it was offensive.
“Scott Moe has failed our students, teachers and parents, and his own candidates agree,” said Matt Love, Saskatchewan NDP candidate for Saskatoon Eastview. “People deserve an MLA that will fight for our kids' future and make life better, not one that sits on their hands while their own government fails Saskatchewan students.”
Fiaz’s comments come as the Sask. Party candidate for Batoche, Darlene Rowden, was also found to have similar comments when they were a school board trustee. She said that Scott Moe’s 2023 budget meant that her school board would be forced to make cuts to classrooms.
Don McBean, a retired principal and educator, said he experienced firsthand the Sask. Party’s cuts to education, starting in 2017, and they got worse year after year.
School boards across the province tried their best to keep the cuts from affecting the classroom, but now they understand that they have to fend for themselves,” McBean said. “Even Scott Moe’s own MLA knows he’s done a horrible job supporting our students."
“It’s time for change. The Saskatchewan NDP will make a generational investment to hire teachers, reduce class sizes and support student learning complexity.
“We will get this province out of last place on education.”
Audio recordings of the meeting with Fiaz are attached to this release.
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