OTTAWA – With the deadline for Ontario teachers to strike an agreement looming, Premier Dalton McGuinty toured full-day kindergarten classrooms in the capital on Friday.

McGuinty visited St. Luke School, alongside MPP Yasir Naqvi and MPP Bob Chiarelli.

But amidst the dust and smell of fresh paint, much of the talk turned to the wage freeze legislation.

McGuinty said the government has to hit the “pause button” right now to ensure the quality of our education system.

“The times have changed and they call upon us to do things a little differently,” said McGuinty.

The draft bill unveiled by Education Minister Laurel Broten on Thursday would freeze the wages for more experienced teachers and ban any strike or lockout for the next two years.

McGuinty hinted the legislature will be recalled the week of Aug. 26 to impose a contract on teachers if an agreement

The premiere also confirmed the bill to impose a contract on teachers will not be a confidence motion, so a defeat won’t trigger an election.

McGuinty said the threat of disrupting students’ education is very real and it is crucial to work out a solution.

“Just as we would in our household if there was a change in our incomes … we make some choices, establish some new priorities,” said McGuinty.

And although the fate of the school year is still in limbo, McGuinty left a welcome message for students on a classroom blackboard.

When asked if that was optimistic he said responded quickly.

“Oh, they’re gonna have a year,” he said with a confident smile.