Ontario’s auditor-general says the Wynne government has given teachers’ unions over $80-million the last 16 years … and about a quarter of that with ”no strings attached.”

Bonnie Lysyk was asked late last year to look into the $3.8-million paid to unions representing teachers and education workers the past three rounds of bargaining, which were longer than normal because the system was new.

In her just released report, the A-G says the payments were unusual but within the government’s authority.

She found since 2000, the government’s given $80.5-million to teachers’ unions and the Ontario Teachers Federation.

Some would have come from the Tories, but most came from the Liberals who took power in 2003.

Lysyk says of that amount, $22-million was given with ”no strings attached” and the rest was largely earmarked for teachers’ professional development.

Education Minister Liz Sandals defends professional development and said the money was not taken out of classroom spending.