Education Minister Bernard Drainville is under fire for a comment about teachers’ salaries he made in an interview with the Duty. He defended himself, on Wednesday, for having “wanted to insinuate that the profession of teacher is of less importance than that of deputy”.
At an editorial table organized on Monday, the elected caquiste was questioned about the 30% increase in remuneration granted to the elected officials of the National Assembly, when Quebec is negotiating the collective agreements for teachers.
“You are really comparing the job of teacher at job deputy? Are you telling me it compares? he then launched. Oppositions and unions then criticized him for showing “contempt” towards teachers.
Watch the excerpt in question:
In front of journalists from Dutythe Minister declared that the comparison between the remuneration of elected officials and the salaries of teachers is in his opinion “a little lame” and even, “a tad demagogic”.
He recalled that there has been “an increase [des salaires des enseignants] from 14 to 18% during the last collective agreement”. He also said he wanted “teachers to be paid as much as possible because they — especially women — play an important role in our society.”
Faced with the controversy, his cabinet clarified Wednesday the words of Mr. Drainville. “In his eyes, all professions and trades deserve the same respect, whether you are a teacher, nurse, plumber, police officer, construction worker, etc. “said his press officer, Florence Plourde. “He also said he wanted teachers to be paid more, but that issue had to be settled at the bargaining table. »
Focus:
In no way did I want to insinuate that the work of a teacher is less important than that of an MP.
In my eyes, all professions and trades deserve the same respect, whether you are a teacher, a nurse, a machinist, a plumber, etc.
— Bernard Drainville (@BDrainvilleQc) May 17, 2023
Disdain for teachers
The Minister of Education’s comment to Duty made Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy jump. “Contempt summed up in five seconds,” she wrote on social media, where she shared an excerpt from the interview.
“I was a teacher at university and despite this experience, I was burned after a week as a teacher in a class of 5e year. After several months of substitute teaching, I can say that a teacher can be an excellent deputy, but the reverse is less true! she also noted.
Pascal Bérubé of the Parti Québécois called the minister’s response “heartbreaking”.
“My father was a teacher. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in education. To tell you the respect I have for this profession,” did he write on Twitter.
The Autonomous Federation of Education also shared the minister’s comments in a post wearing the title “Contempt is enough! “.
The president of the Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ), Josée Scalabrini, also regretted the minister’s remarks during an interview with LCN. ” Even [lundi], as you have seen, respect for the work of teachers is so-so. He made a very unfortunate statement to himself,” she said.