Protesters from all corners of Alberta united on Saturday in West Springs, a community in southwest Calgary situated within the Calgary-Bow provincial electoral district, where Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has held office since 2019.
The event, orchestrated by Public Interest Alberta, witnessed members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and their supporters canvassing the area and distributing yellow signs advocating for the enhancement of public education.
More than 51,000 teachers from public, separate, and francophone schools across Alberta have been on strike since October 6, resulting in over 750,000 K-12 students being out of school for over three weeks.
Bradley Lafortune, the executive director of Public Interest Alberta, described the gathering as an attempt to “steer the course” of public education in the province, likening it to a vessel in imminent danger of sinking.
He attributed the ongoing strike to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister Nicolaides, stating that they had the authority to prevent it but chose not to, leading to discussions during the strike about issues like complex and overcrowded classrooms, fair funding, and sustainable resources for public education.
Lafortune criticized the impending introduction of back-to-work legislation, known as Bill 2 or the Back to School Act, set to be presented on Monday, as a move that would deprive teachers of the right to strike and compel them to return to work.
He emphasized the need for the government to engage in negotiations without resorting to legislating teachers back to work and to commit to bolstering funding for public education in Alberta.
The protest organizers clarified that their demonstration was separate from the ongoing petition to recall Education Minister Nicolaides in Calgary-Bow due to his alleged failure to support public education.
The petition, initiated on October 23, marks the first application for recall approval under the recently amended Recall Act in Alberta, requiring organizers to collect 16,006 signatures by January 21, 2026, to potentially trigger a referendum and a by-election in the constituency.
Premier Smith, during her radio program on Saturday, reiterated the province’s intent to introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday, emphasizing the need to balance the rights of taxpayers, parents, and students while addressing the complexity of the issues raised by teachers.
Smith highlighted the ATA’s rejection of enhanced mediation last week and expressed the government’s willingness to collaborate with teachers on solutions post-wage settlement, potentially involving increased wages, hiring more teachers, and exploring various classroom-based strategies.
The premier mentioned the establishment of an education task force to address classroom needs collaboratively and expressed hope for initiating this process in the upcoming week.
