B.C. will likely appeal teachers ruling that fined province $2 million: premier

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Premier Christy Clark says the government will likely appeal a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that fined the province $2 million and struck down legislation around class size and composition — for the second time.

Clark says the government’s priority is to make sure the education system is working for students and the court decision doesn’t reflect that priority.

The premier says lawyers are currently studying the complex ruling released Monday.

Justice Susan Griffin said the government didn’t negotiate with the BC Teachers Federation in good faith after a court decision struck down the original legislation in 2011.

She ruled the government’s strategy was to provoke a strike by the union in order to get support for imposing legislation on the union.

The decision means the deleted terms in the teachers’ collective agreement, such as class size, have been retroactively restored and can also be the subject of future bargaining. (CHNL)