Despite the education labour battle set to get even more serious next week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stood firm on his government's offer when it comes to compensation in the next labour agreement with provincial teaching unions.
"No," Ford said when asked if his government would consider budging on its longstanding offer of a $750 million pay increase over the next four years.
The stance comes as elementary teachers are set to walk out in certain boards on Monday, with all public and Catholic high school teachers doing the same on Tuesday.
"If I came out tomorrow and said we're going to give another one per cent, it would be all done," he said at Queen's Park to reporters. "But we can't do that."
The unions have maintained it's not simply about compensation, but the government's plans to increase class sizes among other issues.
The unions have also launched a legal challenge to Bill 124, which would cap public sector pay increases to one per cent a year for the next three years.
But when it comes to negotiations, both sides remain far apart, as current talks are only going on between the government and AEFO, the body representing French teachers.
There are currently no talks planned with the heads of elementary teachers (ETFO), high school teachers (OSSTF) or Catholic ones (OECTA).
And ETFO president Sam Hammond said they wouldn't return without some sort of pre-conditions.
"If they indicate that they're actually going to engage in negotiations, then we will be at that table," Hammond said Monday. "If that's not the case, then that's a problem for everyone."
"If we go back to the table and it's the same thing that's been happening since August 29th, that's not fair to anyone and it's insulting quite frankly," he said.
One-day strikes per week from OSSTF have been happening for the last month and with more on the way and the possibility of a full strike if things don't improve, Ford would not rule out back-to-work legislation.
"That's a last step," he said. "We want to get a deal and get the kids back in the classroom."
Ford insisted his issue is not with teachers, but their leadership, going as far to say that one parent told him they felt they were being held "hostage" by the union heads.
"They want to argue, no matter what premier, no matter what government is in power," he said.
The OECTA walkout would mark the first time that union has taken that step in 20 years.
As for the financial assistance announced by Education Minister Stephen Lecce the day before, the government's latest data says 33,000 applications have been made online.