TORONTO - Education Minister Liz Sandals says talks have broken off between the government, school boards and the elementary teachers' union.
Sandals says the government and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association have tabled a "comprehensive" proposal to the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario that she says is in line with the tentative agreements reached with other teacher unions in the province.
She says she is hopeful a settlement can be reached.
ETFO president Sam Hammond says he is shocked that talks have broken off and said the parties were making progress in negotiations, albeit slowly over the past seven days.
He says the government and the school boards association have refused to provide dates for further discussion and will meet with local union presidents Monday to discuss the developments.
The union represents about 78,000 elementary public school teachers across the province.
