Manitoba NDP promises to restore cap on K-3 classroom sizes, add classrooms

The Manitoba New Democrats say they would restore a cap on the number of students in kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms if they're elected next month.

Leader Wab Kinewannounced Thursday that as premier, he would bring back legislation that the Progressive Conservatives dumped in 2017.

The former NDP government aimed to ensure 90 per cent of early-year classroomshad no more than 20 students.

Kinew said Thursday he has the "same aspirational goal" as the previous cap, but said specific details, such as the timeline for implementation, would be determined inconsultation with school divisions.

The NDP leader expects the initiative to cost around $18 million annually.

Parents want small class sizes

"We know that Mr. Pallistercut the small class sizes initiative and I never understood why," Kinew said, flanked by NDP candidates, school staff and childrenon the grounds of cole Rivire Rouge in Winnipeg'sRiverdalearea.

"Aseducation critic and then as leader, I've talked to a lot of parents across Manitoba, and I still haven't met any parent who wants their child to have less one-on-one time with their teacher."

To support the movefor smaller class sizes, the NDP would commit $85 million to build an unspecified number of additional classrooms. The funding would come from the existing education capitalbudget, Kinew said.

He alsopromised $1 million to increase the number of educational assistants and another $1 million for French-language teachers.

The NDP leader reiterated that he would build at least as many new schools as the 13 additional builds the Tories recently promised.

In a prepared statement, Swan River PC candidate Rick Wowchuk, a former teacher, accused Kinew of being untruthful.

"Wab Kinew wants to go back to a time when his NDP friends were in government, a time when special needs funding was cut by more than $8 million, a time when thousands of students were learning in trailers and when student achievement measurements were dead last in Canada," Wowchuk said. "Let's not go back."

Manitobanswill head to the polls on Sept. 10.

• Full coverage of the 2019 Manitoba election

Sign up for CBC Manitoba's newsletter for insight into the latest election news. Every week until the campaign ends, we'll send you a roundup of what you need to know.