Thursday March 5, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 12:05 pm | Updated 12:35 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Indpendent MLA Jordan Kealey today introduced a bill in the BC Legislature that proposes stronger security and protection of schools.
His private members bill School Amendment Act, 2026 comes in the wake of the mass shooting tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary in northeast rural BC.
In his brief introduction of the bill, MLA Kealey (Peace River North) pointed out how relatively open most schools are in BC — that people’s homes are often better protected than schools where children spend most of their day.
BC schools:
All schools in BC are required to have safety plans. Some schools have either passive security efforts (observational), moderate (checking in at the school office), and/or active security (including police liaison officers and security cameras).
According to Global TV today, Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare says BC schools are safe. Last year there was debate about approaches to school safety as challenged by the SD61 Greater Victoria School District Board; Beare ended up dismissing the board and appointing one person to represent the school district. School trustee elections across the province come up in October 2026.
Discussion next week:
Discussion in the BC Legislature will take place on this Bill next week.
Independents in the BC Legislature:
There are currently five independent MLAs in the 93-member BC Legislative Assembly.
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NEWS SECTIONS: 43rd PARLIAMENT OF BC | ONEBC | K-12 EDUCATION