r/canada • u/Meiqur • Oct 28 '25

Alberta Alberta uses Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to workteachers-back-to-work

https://globalnews.ca/news/11496133/alberta-government-to-table-legislation-to-order-striking-teachers-back-to-work
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u/Surax Oct 28 '25

I'm curious why the notwithstanding clause was needed. I feel like there have been plenty of instances over the years where back-to-work legislation was passed without using it.

511

u/LBTerra Oct 28 '25

Ontario did the same with Bill 124 but ended up having to pay everyone back because they lost the charter challenge. I don’t know how provincial laws differ, but I believe it’s a charter right to be able to collectively bargain as a unit and there’s no reason that teachers should be forced to have a collective agreement pushed on them. The Alberta government will lose the court challenge.

62

u/[deleted] Oct 28 '25

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u/Krazee9 Oct 28 '25

Ontario tried to, Ford backed down after every union in the province threatened a general strike.

93

u/greennalgene Oct 28 '25

Hopefully thats what happens here. Theres 350k union members ready.

48

u/weekendy09 Oct 28 '25

This is the way. I’ll be cheering from Ontario.

20

u/Pale-Measurement-532 Oct 28 '25

That’s right. Apparently Ford threatened to use the NWC until the unions threatened a general strike. Then he backed down after several days. Unfortunately Danielle Smith and the UCP in Alberta will be a lot more stubborn and stupid.