By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta teachers head to court amid labour and Charter dispute with province

Nov 20, 2025 | 9:53 AM

Alberta’s teachers are heading to court today to try to get a judge to take immediate action on a provincial law ordering them back to work.

Lawyers for the Alberta Teachers’ Association will ask a judge to temporarily set aside all or part of a bill passed three weeks ago by Premier Danielle Smith’s government that ended a provincewide strike by 51,000 teachers.

They want the bill put on hold pending a full airing in court of the issues involved.

The bill also imposed on the teachers a collective bargaining agreement rank-and-file teachers had earlier rejected and invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to shield it from legal challenge.

The teachers, however, argue the clause has not been properly used.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

8h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

The clause overrides teachers’ Charter rights, but Smith has said the government had no choice but to end the strike given that it was affecting students’ social, educational and emotional well-being.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2025.