Court Victory for Public Education

Outspoken advocate for public education and full public funding - Catherine Alpha - is reinstated as School Trustee for Greater Victoria!

The BC Supreme Court ruled today that Catherine and her Financial Agent DID submit Catherine's campaign financing disclosure on time. The Judge noted that her disclosure was non-conforming, but determined that Catherine had acted with due diligence in disclosing her financial information. He ordered a 30 day extension to the filing period. Because Catherine had already provided a second disclosure some time ago, the Judge ruled that Catherine be reinstated and that the June 27 by-election be canceled.

The Judge's decision clearly differs from, and corrects, the School District Secretary-Treasurer's declaration that Catherine had not filed at all -- a decision that was accepted without question by the majority of the other School Trustees (Michael McEvoy, Tom Ferris, Dave Pitre, Elaine Leonard, and Jim Holland) who immediately started the by-election process.

In giving his decision, the Judge also noted that Secretary-Treasurer George Ambeault had a statutory obligation to give notice of non-conforming financial disclosures, but only did so five days after the late-filing deadline.

Catherine Alpha ran last November as a Victoria Public Education Coalition (VPEC) candidate. VPEC has continued to support and work with Catherine on the School Board, fighting for full funding for public education, and in her camapign to return to the School Board. VPEC is celebrating the return of this advocate to School Board.

VPEC also gives great thanks to Tamara Malczewska who has been campaigning as our VPEC candidate in the by-election. Her commitment to public education had already won her wide support and many endorsements.