Teachers’ Union Sues Alberta Government Over Notwithstanding Clause

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is suing the provincial government over its invocation of the notwithstanding clause in legislation that mandated striking teachers to return to work. Following Alberta’s first provincewide teachers strike, lasting over three weeks, Bill 2 — the Back to School Act — was enacted on Oct. 29. ATA president Jason Schilling emphasized the action is crucial for upholding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The union seeks to suspend Bill 2’s operation while contesting its constitutionality, claiming it improperly uses the notwithstanding clause and violates freedoms of association and expression.