By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

CAN IT BE RESOLVED?

ATA prepared to negotiate, despite anticipated gov’t plan to force teachers back to work

Oct 22, 2025 | 5:13 PM

The Alberta Teachers’ Association says it is aware of the looming back-to-work legislation promised by Premier Danielle Smith.

Such legislation appears to be coming with the return to the legislature for MLAs, happening Oct. 23.

“We are aware that the government is planning to legislate an end to the strike, but doing so will not bring an end to the deteriorating conditions that caused it. These conditions are the direct consequence of a decade of underfunding, leaving Alberta as the province spending the least on public education,” the ATA said in a statement Wednesday.

“We remain prepared to negotiate solutions that include a student-teacher ratio. Now it’s the government’s turn to take up the challenge of solving these serious issues in cooperation with teachers who want to support their students as best as they can.”

Close to 740,000 students have been off school for 12 days now, as Alberta’s 51,000 or so teachers have been striking.

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The Alberta NDP also commented today about the strike.

In fact, Opposition House Leader Christina Gray said it will be the party’s first order of business.

“We will oppose back-to-work legislation for teachers if it is brought forward,” said Gray. “This UCP government needs to properly fund public education. A negotiated settlement is possible, the UCP just has to agree to invest in Alberta’s children. Students and teachers deserve a fair deal and real solutions, not political punishment for months of UCP stalling.”

The teachers’ strike has revolved around classroom complexity, teacher-to-student ratios, and of course wages.