---
title: "BC Greens pledge to close a $316.8-million gap in school funding for students with disabilities"
description: "The BC Green Party released a plan on October 8 to close what it says is a $316.8-million shortfall in provincial funding for inclusive education."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-greens-inclusive-education-funding-gap-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:51.057Z"
---

The BC Green Party published a plan on October 8 to close what it describes as a $316.8-million funding gap for students who need extra help in school.

The party says BC school districts currently receive $994.8 million from the province for inclusive education, a label covering students with learning disabilities, developmental needs, or other conditions that require extra support in the classroom. The party says districts spend $316.8 million more than that amount to actually run those services. Both figures are the party's own, published on its website, and have not been independently audited.

## What the party says about BC's standing

The BC Green Party states that BC ranks second-to-last among Canadian provinces in per-pupil education funding. The party has not named the source for that comparison. [Emily Lowan](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan), the BC Greens leader and candidate for Saanich North and the Islands, made the announcement in Victoria alongside Carolyn Howe, the party's candidate for Victoria-Swan Lake.

"Every parent in this province knows the feeling of sending their kid off in the morning and hoping their child gets all the support they need," Lowan said, as quoted on the party's website.

Howe added: "Teachers and Education Assistants are burning out trying to fill the gaps when support isn't enough."

## What the plan includes

The BC Greens' plan calls for a shift to needs-based funding so that money follows each student's actual requirements rather than a fixed formula. The plan also proposes a target counsellor ratio of one counsellor per 250 students and includes a universal school food and school supplies program. A capital plan for school facility improvements is also listed. The party has not published a separate cost figure for each item.

The party says the inclusive education funding shortfall has lasted for at least 18 years, though it has not named the source for that claim.

## No response from other parties

No statement from the BC NDP or the Conservative Party of BC on this announcement was reported on October 8. Voters can read the BC Greens' full release at the link below and see what other parties have said about education at [/bc/provincial-2026/news](/bc/provincial-2026/news). Voting day is October 24, 2026, with advance voting from October 16 to 21.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.