Photo by Roger Richardson

B.C. Education Minister Peter Fassbender said last week the government and the teachers’ union weren’t “even close” to a deal BUT both sides will meet today see if they can get talks restarted.

Billed as “exploratory,” today’s discussions will not include the full bargaining teams. The provincial government has also applied to the Labour Relations Board to have remedial summer school and year-round schooling deemed essential services.

The government has said it would end its partial lockout so that summer school can go ahead, but the teachers’ union hasn’t yet revealed its plans for the summer programs.