The following is a statement from Premier Stephen McNeil.

I am disappointed that the Nova Scotia Teachers Union has walked away from the negotiating table and that a collective bargaining agreement could not be reached.

The most recent proposal from the province included everything in the previous agreement, and an additional $10 million to address classroom conditions, with the direction of spending to be determined by a working group of teachers, school boards, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The union tabled an unrealistic proposal that would have cost taxpayers close to $500 million. This is simply not acceptable.

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union continued to ask for more and presented a proposal that the province simply cannot afford to pay.

We believe in the importance of education for our students and the overall health of the province. That is why in every budget we have made investments in the classroom. It is why we committed an additional $10 million for teachers and the union to address conditions in the classroom.

I want to reassure parents that we will continue to do everything we can to find a resolution as quickly as possible.

I also want teachers and parents to know that regardless of what happens next, we will continue to invest in education and the classroom to create the best learning conditions possible for teachers and students.

Source: Release