Alberta's finance minister says there's still a major divide between what the union representing striking teachers is asking for and what the government is willing to spend.

The provincewide strike, affecting about 740,000 students across 2,500 schools, entered its seventh day Wednesday.

A new contract proposal from the Alberta Teachers' Association was the subject of a bargaining meeting Tuesday, the first since its 51,000 teachers walked off the job Oct. 6.

Nate Horner, in an interview with Corus Radio host Shaye Ganam, said the union "shot for the moon" with its latest proposal, as it would require almost $2 billion more in spending than the government had set aside for a deal.

"In that sense, I'm sure that their membership would be pleased with this ask," Horner said Wednesday.

He

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