The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton has raised apprehensions regarding the Alberta government’s utilization of the notwithstanding clause to compel striking teachers to resume work. Bishop Stephen London penned an open letter, expressing his views on the matter. While he refrained from engaging in political partisanship, he highlighted potential threats to Canadians’ religious freedoms stemming from the legislation. London emphasized that invoking the clause to resolve the teachers’ strike contradicts the Charter’s freedom of association provision.
Last week, the United Conservative Party government employed the notwithstanding clause to expedite back-to-work legislation and end a provincewide teachers’ strike that commenced on October 6. London urged Premier Danielle Smith to retract the legislation, allowing teachers to pursue collective bargaining. He underscored the moral and spiritual implications of this significant decision, emphasizing the importance of democratic rights and freedoms in upholding a free society.
Heather Jenkins, press secretary for Justice Minister Mickey Amery, defended the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, stating that it is a vital tool to maintain a balance of power between the courts and elected bodies. She asserted that the decision was made in the public interest to facilitate students’ return to classrooms. The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton did not provide an immediate response regarding its stance on London’s concerns.
