QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement after the Education Minister’s press conference on contract talks with teachers:
“The Education Minister should not be forcing a choice between funding for classrooms and funding to fairly compensate teachers.
Let’s get our priorities straight.
Yesterday we learned that the province is giving top bureaucrats a 14% salary increase, with performance bonuses, while we’re also subsidizing electricity to the tune of $4.2 billion per year with the UnFair Hydro Plan.
This is money that should be directed to health care, education and other core public services.
I hope all sides can get these negotiations back on track to strike a fair deal for teachers and to keep students in school.
That means the government must start listening to teachers’ serious concerns about larger class sizes and 10,000 fewer positions.”