Prime Minister François Legault speaks of an upcoming budget that is “largely in deficit” due to the massive investments in the education sector granted at the end of collective bargaining.
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“In the negotiations with the education network, we made the decision to significantly improve the working conditions of teachers and staff, but this decision to invest massively in public services will have financial consequences,” said François Legault at a press conference on Sunday afternoon in Montreal.
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The Prime Minister was accompanied on the occasion by Education Minister Bernard Drainville and the President of the Ministry of Finance, Sonia Lebel, to announce the content of the policy agreements negotiated in the education sector.
A postponement of the balanced budget currently planned for 2027-2028 is “not impossible,” admitted François Legault. However, there are no plans to cut public services.
“As Prime Minister, I will take charge of this election. It is a decision that must be made and it is a responsible decision,” he said.
Proud of the agreement
François Legault, who said he was “very proud” of the agreement, mentioned that the education sector “is the best individual but also collective investment we can make”.
This week, teachers represented by the Common Front approved the agreement by 59.5%. However, according to their union, the Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ), this showed “obvious dissatisfaction” among members.
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The agreement in principle concluded with the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) had been narrowly approved two weeks earlier, while the last union called to vote had voted in favor with 50.6%.
“Let us give this convention a chance to take shape in the daily lives of teachers and school staff,” defended Bernard Drainville.
Progress
At the end of the collective agreement, a teacher's salary at the highest pay scale will reach $109,000. This is currently $92,000.
“We negotiated several measures that achieved three main goals: provide more stability in schools, offer more help for teachers and students and grant teachers more autonomy,” summarized Sonia Lebel.
The negotiated agreements allow for the hiring of 14,000 part-time classroom assistants and the creation of a new class composition mechanism to better support teachers struggling with struggling students.
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The agreements also provide for the creation of 5,000 permanent positions in schools and the possibility of carrying out part of the educational days via telework.
“Without solving everything, these measures will have a positive and concrete impact,” welcomed Minister Drainville.
FSE-CSQ teachers reached an agreement in principle with Quebec on December 22 following the nine-day strike ordered by the Common Front.
For its part, the FAE, which represents around 40% of teachers in the province, came up with a solution proposal on December 27 after more than 20 days of indefinite general strike.