Alberta Ends Largest Teacher Strike Using Notwithstanding Clause

Alberta's government, led by Premier Danielle Smith, passed Bill 2, the Back to School Act, invoking the Charter's notwithstanding clause to end a 22-day strike by 51,000 teachers, sending over 750,000 students back to class. The bill imposes a collective agreement with a 12% wage increase over four years, additional market adjustments, and promises to hire thousands of new teachers and educational assistants, despite 89.5% of workers previously rejecting this offer. The government fast-tracked the bill's passage, limiting debate and using its legislative majority, though Smith was absent during the vote due to a trade mission in the Middle East. The opposition NDP and unions criticized the use of the notwithstanding clause as an authoritarian abuse of power threatening labor rights, while Smith argued it was necessary to prevent further harm to students' education. The bill also pauses local bargaining and penalizes non-compliance with heavy fines, signaling potential conflict with other provincial unions. This unprecedented use of the notwithstanding clause in a labor dispute marks a significant moment in Alberta's political and educational landscape.