New minister aims to ditch toxic relationship with teachers to get deal

VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s new education minister says he hopes to forge a new relationship with teachers in an effort to get a 10-year collective agreement.

Peter Fassbender says he met Thursday with organizations representing various groups including school trustees and the government to remind them about the mandate the premier achieved with her recent election victory.

A potential 10-year deal with the province’s teachers was part of the Christy Clark’s election platform.

Fassbender says a decade-long agreement would bring stability for everyone involved in the education system, including students.

Fassbender says he asked the groups to wrap up any non-substantive contract issues this week before beginning talks next week.

He says he’s optimistic he can overcome a toxic past relationship with teachers.