The Alberta government has approved Bill 2, also known as the Back to School Act, to resolve the teachers’ strike that has disrupted classes for approximately 750,000 students in the province since early October. Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced the legislation, which mandates striking teachers to return to work under a collective agreement enforced through the notwithstanding clause. The bill was expedited through all stages with limited debate to ensure a swift resolution.

Premier Smith aims to have students and teachers back in classrooms as early as Wednesday, following the passing of the legislation in the provincial legislature after a lengthy session. The government’s use of the notwithstanding clause has faced criticism from the Opposition and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), with concerns raised about the impact on democratic processes and constitutional rights.

The ATA, representing 51,000 teachers, had been on strike since October 6 after rejecting previous agreements. The imposed collective agreement under Bill 2 includes salary increases and commitments to hiring additional teachers and educational assistants over the next few years. Financial penalties are outlined for non-compliance with the back-to-work order, and bargaining at local levels has been suspended until 2028.

Despite the government’s assertion of fairness, the ATA seeks further attention to issues such as class sizes and support for student needs. Efforts to address these concerns include the appointment of an action team to study student behavior and a newly announced task force focusing on class size and student complexity in Alberta schools.

The use of the notwithstanding clause in the legislation has sparked debates and criticisms, with concerns about its implications on democratic rights and governance. The bill’s passage has ignited discussions about the balance between governmental authority and the protection of fundamental rights in the context of labor disputes and education policy.