Minister of Education Peter Fassbender has issued the following statement:

"Last Thursday I asked the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and the British Columbia Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) to conclude matters currently being negotiated. Government wants to use the time scheduled this week to work out the process or road map forward. We made it clear that we would be taking steps to bargain directly with the BCTF on provincial matters and in pursuit of a long-term agreement.

"Over the weekend, we formally rescinded BCPSEA's bargaining mandate and yesterday we informed the parties that Peter Cameron will serve as the ministry's lead on provincial matters and to develop a path forward with the parties and the BCSTA. Mr. Cameron is a respected and seasoned negotiator and we are very pleased that he has agreed to take on the challenge of helping us reach this important agreement.

"Yesterday I also wrote to the BCTF to formally invite them to join with the government in working toward a more stable labour environment. I expressed my commitment to full transparency and that I look forward to working with the BCTF in pursuit of a long-term agreement. I also acknowledged the work that had been accomplished over the past five months and assured the BCTF this work would continue to inform our position as we move forward.

"I want to assure all partners that while we have asked for a pause in bargaining, it is not the end of bargaining. We are not walking away from the table, we are walking toward it. The work that has been done to date will not be lost. In fact, we want to build on it.

"These are necessary steps given we have accepted the BCTF's long-held desire to bargain directly with government on provincial matters. We want to keep moving forward, and that means we need the partners to focus on building a joint roadmap before bargaining can resume under a new mandate that is consistent with our election commitment."

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963