SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging teachers to agree to new contracts before the end of the month, while warning he’ll do it for them if they refuse.
   
McGuinty says he’s confident teachers will return in September because the overwhelming majority understand the province can’t afford to give them more money.
   
He says teachers also know that he’s committed to publicly funded education _ his single greatest priority.
 
McGuinty has warned Ontario teachers and school boards that he’d recall the legislature this month to impose new contracts if they can’t reach local agreements that freeze wages for two years.
 
He says the old contracts will automatically roll over Sept. 1, giving teachers raises that the cash-strapped government can’t afford.
   
The governing Liberals want school boards to model any deals on their agreement with English Catholic teachers, but the Conservatives say that would give 40 per cent of teachers a raise.