Auditor general will review Liberals' deal with teachers

Education Minister Liz Sandals and Premier Kathleen Wynne.

TORONTO - For the first time ever in government history, Ontario’s auditor general will review the peace deal Premier Kathleen Wynne gave to Ontario teachers earlier this year — one that may have cost taxpayers as much as $500 million.

A motion to have the AG take a hard look at the cost of all five collective agreements narrowly squeaked through the legislature’s public accounts committee Wednesday morning following a story in the Toronto Sun revealing the $500 million tab.

According to an education sector source, the $500 million includes at least $226 million to pay for the premier’s re-opened deals with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO) plus the me-too clauses that hand the other three teachers’ unions and CUPE workers the same add-ons.  (more...)

Auditor general will review Liberals' deal with teachers