TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty marked back to school by joining students at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Elementary School in Toronto on Tuesday.

It was neutral territory given that the government has reached tentative agreements with the French language teachers and the school is a French immersion school.

“I’m proud of our teachers but also need them to play their part in reducing the deficit,” McGuinty said. “We want to give our kids more than just a great education. We also want to hand down to them a really strong economy.  That entails eliminating the deficit by hitting the pause button on public pay.  It’s just for a couple of years and we are doing it in a way that protects teaching jobs.”

The government’s wage freeze/strike ban bill will likely pass this week despite strong opposition from three of the biggest teachers’ unions which represent public high school and elementary teachers.