This week, teachers in Alberta were dealt a major blow. On October 27, Premier Danielle Smith invoked the notwithstanding clause and legislated teachers back to work after three weeks on the picket line. This was an aggressive act, and though BCTF members are not unfamiliar with governments whose priorities do not include public education, this attack is a unique and severe infringement on the rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Teachers in Alberta are asking for fair pay and improved services for their students. Their struggle is for fair working conditions so they are able to meet the needs of all their students and help them thrive.

President Carole Gordon sent Premier Smith the following letter outlining the BCTF’s concerns about the egregious move by the Alberta government.

Dear Premier Smith:

On behalf of the 52,000 members of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, I’m writing to express our profound dismay and disappointment regarding your government’s decision to invoke the notwithstanding clause and legislate Alberta’s teachers back to work. Such measures represent a serious infringement on fundamental rights protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—specifically, the right to free and fair collective bargaining and the right to meaningful association. These are not abstract legal principles; they are the foundation of a respectful, democratic relationship between governments and working people.

Teachers across Canada understand the vital importance of fair negotiations in securing the conditions necessary to provide high-quality public education. Resorting to the notwithstanding clause to override those rights undermines both the integrity of the bargaining process and the public’s trust in government accountability. It sends a troubling message that constitutionally protected rights can be set aside for expedience rather than addressed through good-faith dialogue.

We urge your government to reconsider this approach and to re-engage with the Alberta Teachers’ Association in a manner that honours educators’ rights, values their professional voice, and prioritizes the best interests of students and communities.

Please know that teachers in British Columbia stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Alberta. We believe that respect for collective bargaining and constitutional rights is essential to a strong public education system and to the democratic values we all share. 

Sincerely,

Carole Gordon
President