Adrian Dix spent the Labour Day weekend sidestepping reporters’ questions about his stance on the BC Teacher’s Federation job action.

“British Columbians deserve answers from the Leader of the Opposition,” says Education Minister George Abbott. “It’s no secret that big labour – including the BCTF – are major partners of the NDP, but to flat-out refuse to answer basic questions about what the NDP would do with the BCTF negotiations is disrespectful to parents, students and teachers.”

There are four simple questions for Adrian Dix to answer:

1. Does he believe that the BCTF should be given a substantial raise during this time of economic uncertainty?

2. Would Adrian Dix cut existing programs or raise taxes to pay the estimated $2 billion cost of the BCTF demands?

3. With nearly all other public sector unions having signed net-zero contracts, would Adrian Dix renegotiate those contracts as well to offer the same raises and benefits demanded by the BCTF?

4. Does Adrian Dix agree with his Kamloops-North Thompson BC NDP candidate who is calling for substantial increases to the BCTF contract?

“Adrian Dix is the leader of the opposition,” says Abbott. “He needs to be up-front about what his union-friendly policies will mean to ordinary British Columbians. Will it be reduced services, or higher taxes?”