VANCOUVER, BC — BC Conservative leadership candidate Iain Black is calling for a province-wide ban on cell phones in all classrooms. Under his proposal, students would be required to keep phones in lockers during instructional time, removing distractions and restoring classrooms as environments dedicated to learning. Any temporary phone use deemed necessary for a specific assignment or lesson block would be allowed only via the request of the teacher to the school's administration. In any event, any student-accessible wifi networks would be implemented to block social media sites and other related technologies defined by the Ministry of Education.
"Social media is designed to be addictive—and it's having a real impact on our kids," said Black. "We are seeing declining attention spans, rising anxiety, and classrooms where learning is constantly interrupted. That is not setting students up for success."
Black emphasized that David Eby and the BC NDP's approach to cell phones in schools is an abdication of responsibility that has failed students and teachers alike.
"Right now, classrooms compete with some of the most powerful and addictive technologies ever created," he said. "Instead of clear, enforceable direction from Victoria, it falls on individual teachers to police this ongoing distraction instead of teaching. Meanwhile, students are left to self-regulate in an environment designed to pull their attention away. That's not fair, and it's not working."
The policy reflects growing global concern about smartphone and social media use among youth, including recent U.S. legal scrutiny of tech platforms' role in driving addictive behaviours. It is designed to restore a student-first focus in BC schools, ensuring students engage with their teachers, build skills, and prepare for the future.
Iain Black, a proven leader in both the public and private sector, is committed to protecting BC kids, improving classrooms, and putting students first. With a clear plan and a track record of results, Iain Black is Premier-ready on Day One to take action for families and education.