B.C. teachers win major court victory, government ready to open talks
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s teachers union expects more teachers in classrooms after winning a 14-year legal fight over bargaining rights on Thursday in Canada’s highest court.
Glen Hansman, president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, said the Supreme Court of Canada decision means the province must start hiring more teachers and classroom specialists, estimating it will cost the government $250 million to $300 million a year to bring in the additional resources.
“It’s going to mean that there’s going to be … a whole bunch of teachers’ positions restored in B.C. schools, a lot more frontline services for kids in B.C. and much better work life for our members in a very tumultuous school year of change,” he said in an interview.
Finance Minister Mike de Jong said the government wants to act quickly to implement the decision to include the “fiscal consequences” in February’s budget.