The True Post (Web News)One day after the Alberta Teachers’ Association announced it would file an injunction against the use of the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work, Premier Danielle Smith and the Minister of Education announced the formation of a new cabinet committee to address classroom challenges and complexities.
According to the government, the committee will guide policy decisions and allocate resources to address long-standing issues raised by teachers, students, and parents, which were central to the recent strike. Smith noted that the issue could not be fully resolved at the bargaining table, making the use of the notwithstanding clause and the subsequent committee necessary.
Premier Smith explained that one solution being considered is modeled on an approach implemented in Saskatchewan after its teacher strike, where specialized classrooms are capped at 15 students with one teacher and two educational assistants. She emphasized that such issues cannot be solved simply by setting arbitrary student-teacher ratios at the negotiation table, but require collaborative solutions like those the committee aims to implement.
The committee includes four government ministers, Premier Smith, administrative personnel from school boards, and the Associate Executive Secretary of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Only cabinet members will have voting rights, and school boards can submit data to the committee until November 24.
ATA President Jason Schilling welcomed the move, stating it was a direct result of teachers’ collective action. He highlighted the importance of accountability and implementation, emphasizing that teachers will provide expertise and practical insights to improve classroom environments. Shilling said the committee is a step in the right direction and that the government must follow through to repair trust and ensure real change in Alberta’s public education system.
