As Ontario Premier Doug Ford looks to be on a collision course with teachers in his province B.C.’s education minister sees opportunity.

Rob Fleming says there are still teaching vacancies to fill in B.C. and unhappy Ontario teachers are welcome to migrate west.

“I think the Teacher Regulation Branch here has been getting really good at recognizing credentials and certifying teachers from out of province. We will fast track them and we will find them jobs if they are interested in coming and living in B.C.”

However BCTF President elect Teri Mooring is splashing cold water on the idea.

“We need a competitive salary. We hear about teachers potentially being laid off in Ontario and we are sorry to hear about that. But it is unlikely they are going to come all the way to B.C. where we have both the lowest wages of all the western provinces and affordability issues.”

The ministry says last year about 500 teachers left Ontario to come and teach in B.C.