Apparently, they were off and then were back on again later Wednesday afternoon, just what the parents of about 18,500 students of the Toronto and York Region District and Catholic District School Boards were hoping for.

Negotiations between the company and union resumed around 5pm after the union had accused the company of walking away from the table earlier.

If there’s no tentative deal by the midnight deadline, over 300 drivers would be in a legal position to strike but the union local president says she’s open to continuing talks past the deadline if progress is being made.

The main issue’s wages.

A strike could force thousands of students and their families to make other arrangements.