The UCP government used the notwithstanding clause to end the teachers’ strike in Alberta and ordered educators to return to work. CTV
The Alberta government has ordered over 50,000 teachers to return to classrooms after introducing new legislation late Monday that uses the notwithstanding clause. The move ends the longest education strike in the province’s history, which kept 750,000 students out of school for 16 days.
The new Back to School Act (Bill 2) enforces an agreement that members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) rejected in September. The deal offers a 12 per cent pay increase over four years, market adjustments of up to 17 per cent, and the hiring of 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants.
Finance Minister Nate Horner said the province needed to act quickly to protect students. “This legislation ensures no further harm is done to Albertan students,” he said. “Invoking the notwithstanding clause is a serious decision, but it is necessary.”
The bill includes penalties for non-compliance — $500,000 per day for organizations and $500 per day for individuals who refuse to follow the law. It also suspends local bargaining until 2028 to guarantee classroom stability.
“A Sad Day for Alberta,” Says Teachers’ Union
ATA president Jason Schilling condemned the legislation, calling it “a travesty to our democracy.” He said teachers’ rights have been stripped away. “This is a sad day for teachers and for all Albertans,” Schilling said. “If they can do this to us, they can do it to anyone.”
Schilling said the ATA is consulting with legal experts about possible next steps. “If they think this will silence teachers, they’re sorely mistaken,” he said.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery defended the government’s move. He said the clause helps preserve “the sovereignty of the legislature” and ensures students return to classrooms as soon as possible.
Opposition and Labour Leaders Push Back
New Democratic Party leader Naheed Nenshi criticized Premier Danielle Smith for using the notwithstanding clause unnecessarily. “They had many tools to end the strike without going this far,” he said. “The premier did this because she wants to be a bully.”
The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) also condemned the government’s action. President Gil McGowan said it escalates a teachers’ dispute into “a confrontation with the entire labour movement.” The AFL plans to meet with other unions under the “Common Front” banner to decide how to respond.
“By invoking the notwithstanding clause in labour relations, this government has crossed a line no other province has,” McGowan said.
Government Promises Classroom Reforms
Premier Smith said teachers and students will be back in class Wednesday and promised to address concerns raised during negotiations. The government plans to form a Class Size and Complexity Task Force to study issues affecting classroom safety and learning conditions.
“We are addressing teachers’ concerns head-on,” Smith said. “This legislation brings students back but also begins important work to improve our schools.”
