MPP Michael Harris objects to board decision to close schools due to cold

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris is weighing in on the decision by the Waterloo Region public and Catholic district school boards to close schools and cancel school buses Friday because of extremely cold weather conditions.

• Why public schools were closed in Waterloo Region today
• Should schools in Waterloo Region be closed when it's -35?

​"Today we've had a series of calls from concerned parents questioning why their children are being kept from school on a relatively sunny but cold winter day," said Harris. 

He said that because of parents' concerns, he has reached out to the school board and is writing a letter to ask the board to change their policy to close schools when the temperature is either -35 C or -35 with the wind chill.

"Look, this is Canada and there are times when the Canadian winter requires boards to make cancellation decisions," said Harris, "but those decisions should be based on common sense and series of factors, not simply an automatic temperature tipping point."

Harris said he checked what other Ontario school boards decided Friday, including the Upper Grand board which covers Wellington and Dufferin Counties. He also looked into Hamilton, London and Northern Ontario boards, which were all open Friday.

The Waterloo Region District School Board said that the decision was made to close schools Friday because of the increased likelihood of frostbite or frostnip, especially for children who may not have appropriate clothing, the risk of bus delays in extremely cold weather and because the board isn't able to guarantee crossing guards will be working in the cold.

Harris said he was interested in alternatives, such as cancelling buses only but keeping schools open, or delaying school start times to wait for the weather to warm up.  He told CBC News his son was one of the students who was affected by school closures Friday, and would have been happy to drive him to school.