Some Ottawa parents are beginning to wonder if labour negotiations between teachers’ unions and the Ontario government could affect the start of the school year in September.
Ontario’s public teachers’ union has yet to reach a labour agreement with the province.
That has some parents asking if their children’s school year could be interrupted.
“It’s always on the back of your mind when a contract is up for negotiations like that,” said one Ottawa parent with a daughter in high school.
“You really hope it doesn’t affect the students and their year.”
The government wants to reach a deal with teachers by Sept. 1st to avoid paying out millions of dollars in automatic salary increases.
Teachers working for the French and Catholic boards have already agreed to a new contract.
Education minister Laurel Broten is trying to protect young teachers' jobs by cutting the numbers of hours retired teachers can supply teach.
Broten says beginning in September, retired teachers will be allowed to work a maximum of 50 days a year, down from 95.
“Every time a retired teacher steps in to supply teach it means a young teacher in need of experience is denied that opportunity,” Broten said.
Many parents say they are optimistic a deal will be reached by the time school resumes in three weeks.
With files from CTV’s Vanessa Lee.
