The public school teachers strike mandate dominated the early part of question period Wednesday at the Nova Scotia Legislature.
Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie says Stephen McNeil’s government has made a colossal mess in their negotiations with teachers.
“Why should parents and students and teachers trust him now after he created this mess in the first place and refuses to go back to the table and put real classroom improvements back in play.”
Premier Stephen McNeil says the minister is prepared to sit down and talk to teachers to improve classroom learning.
“But it doesn’t help Mr. Speaker when the leader of the opposition continues to fear-monger in this house day after day after day.”
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey has said they will talk about working conditions but not wages.
She says those talks will happen between school boards, province and the teachers union.
NDP House Leader, Sterling Belliveau, says the government’s plan to improve education is not working.
“There has never been a province-wide teachers strike in the history of this province. But the actions of this government have brought us to the brink.”
Meanwhile, McNeil fired back at Belliveau and the previous NDP government.
“Mr. Speaker what has brought us to this point is the previous government cut $65-million out of education.”
Teachers voted 96 per cent in favour of job action on Tuesday.
