Ahead of the provincial budget coming up on March 20th, Premier Scott Moe announced in a social media post that there would be a $180 million increase in school operating funding, the largest increase in Saskatchewan’s history. That fact was brought up in Question Period Thursday morning at the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Saskatoon Eastview NDP MLA Matt Love stressed that including class size and complexity in the teachers’ contract would mean guaranteed funding, noting that budgets aren’t written in stone.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says local school boards agree with the government that class size and complexity don’t belong in the teacher’s contract. He pointed out that the renewed mandate includes provisions around workplace safety, annualization of classroom supports funding and a salary offer which accounts for cost of living increases. Cockrill has stated in the past that it’s the same salary formula that MLAs receive. He suggests it is time for teachers to get back to the bargaining table.

Love stated that the government was ready for a fight even before negotiations began, explaining that more than $145,000 of public money was used on anti-teacher billboards last summer.