Supporters of Nova Scotia's teachers hope Trudeau will intervene in contract dispute

While thousands of people poured into the Dartmouth Sportsplex to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday night, hundreds more were outside demonstrating.

The protesters wanted Trudeau to help resolve the current contract dispute they're having with the provincial government.

"We're hoping he will intercede for us with McNeil," said teacher Lalia Kerr. "If I had a chance to ask Mr. Trudeau a question, I would ask him whether he really understands what a bad name the Liberal Party is getting in Nova Scotia,"

As prime minister, Trudeau has no control over education, which is the responsibility of the provincial government.

Organized by the group Nova Scotia Parents for Teachers, the crowd outside the Sportsplex held signs and chanted,"N-S-T-United, will never be defeated," before marching around the building and onto Wyse Road.

Contract dispute drags on

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the provincial Liberals have been fighting to create a new contract for more than a year. 

Teacher's concerns include increased workload and classroom working conditions. Teachers also want wages increased to reflect the higher cost of living. In November, Premier Stephen McNeil said those changes would simply be too expensive, costing the province an extra $170 million a year. The teacher's union said it couldn't verify the government's numbers.

Demonstrators wanted the prime minister know that they're dissatisfied with the McNeil government.

The teachers union began work-to-rule job action in December, meaning teachers are prevented from performing any actions not strictly laid out in their contracts. 

Many extracurricular activities and school sports programs have been cancelled as a result.

"There has to be a will to negotiate," said former NSTU president Donnie MacIntyre. "This is not an unsolvable issue, but indeed there has to be a will on the part of government."

'I'm a federal politician, so I'm not going any further into that'

Trudeau didn't address teachers' concerns at the town hall.

The prime minister did briefly mention teachers while talking about his choice to enter politics after working as a teacher in his 20s.

"There's a few teachers in the room, I know you're here tonight," Trudeau said, amid applause.

The prime minister said he couldn't comment about education because it's a provincial responsibility.

"It's great to be amongst my peeps, but I'm a federal politician, so I'm not going any further into that."

'Have a little chat with our premier'

The demonstration broke up around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, about an hour before Trudeau took the stage.

"He prides himself on the fact that he was a teacher. We're hoping he would see and hear this and maybe have a little chat with our premier," said teacher Mark Savory.

McNeil wasn't at Monday's event. His press secretary told CBC he was committed elsewhere, but said McNeil and Trudeau spoke on the phone before the town hall.

Trudeau's next stop is Fredericton.