VANCOUVER - Education Minister Peter Fassbender has released the following statement this morning:

“I appreciate that everyone -- especially parents, students and teachers - had hoped to see an agreement over the weekend. 

“The bargaining teams worked hard through the weekend. When negotiations adjourned late last night it was with the expectation that talks would continue today.   

“Specifics around proposals will be shared when appropriate, but I can say that BCPSEA tabled a significant, affordable and creative set of proposals to help end the stalemate, get kids back in school and create long-term stability for parents, students and teachers. BCPSEA worked hard to put its best foot forward.

“They tabled a comprehensive settlement that includes an improved wage offer and commits to realistic and flexible solutions to address class composition.

“BCPSEA has worked very hard to put together a settlement that is fair for teachers, fair for taxpayers, and fair to the 150,000 public-sector workers who’ve already reached agreements. 

“Our goal remains to get to an agreement by June 30 and put this disruption behind us. I’m certain that everyone involved wants to head into the summer with the assurance that our education system is on a path to long-term stability.”

Media Contacts:

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