The Alberta government has extended the Oct. 31 deadline for reaching a deal with the province's teachers.

Education Minster Jeff Johnson said that workload, not wages, remains an outstanding issue.

"We've heard from the ATA that compensation is not the issue, that they recognize they're the highest paid in the country and in light of settlements in other provinces that compensation won't be the biggest issue that we're talking about," he said.

Negotiations are continuing among the province, the Alberta Teachers Association and the school boards to reach a four or five-year deal.

"I wouldn't say that a deal is imminent but the good news is we're having solid enough discussions that we want to extend those a little bit longer," Johnson said.