Since Wynne became premier number of teachers on Sunshine List nearly tripled, costing taxpayers $765M
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...taxpayers-765m
As a result, taxpayers were left with a $765-million bill to pay the salaries of the teachers who made the list in 2016, compared with $263 million in 2014.
Last week, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation became the last of the education unions to ratify agreements that will take them through 2019. Over two years, teachers and support staff across the board are set to see a salary increase equal to four per cent, Elliott confirmed.
Before the bargaining started, Wynne lifted the “net-zero” provision for public-sector employees. That means when new deals are being negotiated with public servants, the government is no longer required to offset the additional spending by finding savings elsewhere.
Van Geyn called both the new agreements and the removal of the net zero provisions “predictable” because of the upcoming election.
“(Wynne) is tracking at 12 per cent in the polls,” Van Geyn said. “She can’t afford for a bloc not to come out. She’s going to spend our money to buy that support.
“That’s what the Sunshine List tells us this year.”