Nova Scotia teachers interested in attending conferences for professional development will have to look at travel options other than the United States for the foreseeable future.
Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Peter Day said conversations about the change started with Education Department officials last school year around the same time the federal and provincial governments were responding to tariff threats from the U.S. government.
Teachers and teacher specialists can apply to have their travel to such conferences covered, as part of their collective agreement. They must receive approval before signing up for a conference.
Although there are some "world-class events" south of the border, Day said that for now his members will be looking elsewhere if they're planning to make such applications.
"We recognize what this looks like and us being a part of professional development opportunities and learning opportunities for our members, that we take into account what is available to teachers and what's appropriate to go to," he said in an interview.
There's no timeline for how long the change will remain in place and Day said the union is looking for further clarification from provincial government officials.
He said his understanding is that the change also applies to other government departments, where conferences in the U.S. will only be attended if they're deemed essential.
Education Minister Brendan Maguire was not made available for an interview.
Day said the ability to access professional development is important for his members because the work is always changing. Despite the change related to U.S. travel, he said there are options in Canada and other parts of the world.
"Our students' needs are evolving and our teachers need to be part of that professional development in order to meet the needs of their students."