EDMONTON — The union for Alberta’s teachers says the province using the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to end their strike is a gross abuse of power — but says it will follow the law.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, in a statement, says it will pursue all legal alternatives to challenge the bill passed early this morning by Premier Danielle Smith’s government ordering them back to work.
The union says the fight has just begun and hopes other unions will help take up its cause.
More than 740,000 students across the province have been out of school for three weeks in the labour dispute, but the plan is to have them back at their desks Wednesday.
If teachers don’t go back, they face fines under the legislation of up to $500 per day per person and up to $500,000 per day for the union.
Smith says the sheer size of the strike — the largest in Alberta’s history — and the educational and social harms to students caused by the work stoppage mandated using the notwithstanding clause, which prevents court challenges to the bill.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
