Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives are pushing the premier to fire Education Minister Karen Casey over her handling of the teachers’ contract dispute.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia schools to reopen Tuesday, work-to-rule still in place
Tory Leader Jamie Baillie has launched an online petition, saying Casey’s approach with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union has been “incompetent and unethical” and has poisoned negotiations.
Casey closed schools to students and threatened to impose a new contract over teachers’ work-to-rule campaign, before backing down Monday amid public outcry after receiving assurances about student safety during the job action.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia parents say children being used as ‘pawns’ in political chess match
Baillie says he believes parents feel angry and used, and he’s urging them to join his party’s call for Casey’s removal.
He says trust has been lost and a new education minister is needed to get the sides negotiating again.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia government closes all public schools as of Monday
Teachers launched their work-to-rule campaign on Monday after talks involving a conciliator broke down Nov. 25.