Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says his government made a one-year, $800,000 offer to the province’s teachers union to compensate for removing principals from the union.
McNeil says the offer was to help make the union whole while it found ways to make up union dues with the pending loss of part of its membership.
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The offer was immediately rejected outright by Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Liette Doucet, who called it “insulting” and an attempt by the government to buy off the union membership.
The premier made the comments to reporters following his annual “state of the province” speech to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.
In the speech, McNeil defended his government’s moves to reform the province’s health and education systems.
He told the business audience that he believes political capital is meant to be spent and he is prepared to spend “all the political capital I have” in the best interests of Nova Scotians.