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Gary Keating has become the poster child for entitled Canadian public school teachers and an abject lesson as to the problem with public sector labour negotiations.

During his 28 year teaching career, Keating had risen to the position of high school principal before venturing into politics. But only three weeks after being elected to the New Brunswick legislature by a mere nine votes, he resigned, betraying his party, constituents and New Brunswick’s taxpayers, who must now foot the bill for a by-election. Keating said it quickly became apparent the job’s “long hours and travel” were such “that the role is not for me.”

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The travel he referred to is the 100 km, or an hour of highway driving, between Saint John and Fredericton — less than the average daily commute for employees in the greater Toronto area. And how often would he be required to even attend the Legislature? Assuming he did not keep an apartment in Fredericton, the legislature sat for a grand total of 52 days last year and 45 in 2014 as of the end of last month.