By-Election rules

General Bylaws of the ATA 

• Membership: Sections 3–4
• Terms of office: Section 48
• Eligibility for nomination: Sections 49–52
• Ballots and voting procedures: Sections 53–70
• Appeals: Sections 71–72
• By-election: Sections 73–74
• Election rules: Sections 75–77

Compulsory active membership

5(1) Subject to this section, the employment of a teacher by a school board is conditional on the teacher being and continuing to be an active member of the association except in the following cases: 

 (a) a teacher who is a superintendent; 

 (b) a teacher who 

 (i) is engaged in carrying out central office administrative functions for the school board, 

 (ii) is not engaged in carrying out teaching functions, and 

 (iii) is designated or otherwise described by or under the regulations as a teacher who is eligible to an election under section 5.1; 

 (c) a teacher who 

 (i) is designated by the school board to an administrative, supervisory or consultative position, and 

 (ii) under section 204(2) of the Education Act, is excluded from the teachers on whose behalf the association is bargaining.

Options re membership of certain teachers

5.1(1) A teacher referred to in section 5(1)(b) or (c) may elect one of the following:

(a) to be an active member of the association;

(b) to be an associate member of the association;

(c) not to be a member of the association.

(2) Where a teacher to whom this section applies makes an election under subsection (1),

(a) the association shall, except where directed or permitted by the Minister to do otherwise, act in accordance with that election, and

(b) the election may not, unless otherwise permitted by the Minister, be revoked or amended during the period of time that the teacher remains employed in the circumstances referred to in section 5(1)(b) or (c) in respect of which the election is made.

2004 c27 s4

Classes of membership

6(1) The membership of the association is composed of active, associate, life, honorary and student members. 

(2) Only teachers who are employed by school boards, other than teachers employed as and teachers who are regulated members of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, may be active members of the association.

(3) The association may grant associate, honorary, life or student membership to any person who meets the conditions prescribed by the bylaws. RSA 2000 cT-2 s6;2021 cC-18.8 s87

Voting rights

7(1) Active members and associate members have the right to vote and, subject to the bylaws, have the right to hold office in the association.

(2) Life, honorary and student members do not have the right to vote or to hold office in the association.

General Provisions

1. The campaign period is defined as the days between the nomination deadline and the fixed election date.

2. Candidates, when campaigning, shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders and section 225.4 of the Education Act.

3. Incumbent members of PEC are not to use ATA stationery or business cards in any way to promote their campaign. 

4. ATA logos are not to be used on campaign materials, including headshots and election videos. This includes items such as lapel pins in photographs or videos. 

5. Candidates shall have their campaign materials vetted by the returning officer before they are produced.

6. Distribution of campaign materials in any form prior to the validation of candidates on the nomination deadline is prohibited. Candidates are, however, permitted to make a single announcement on social media of their intent to run for office once their nomination package has been received and validated by the ATA. 

Campaigning and Events

7. Regional forums for candidates shall be organized by the ATA and scheduled on dates after nomination day and before voting opens.

8. An ATA subgroup inviting a candidate to any type of event it sponsors during the campaign or voting periods is required to extend the same invitation to all candidates running for the same position.

9. Incumbent candidates performing official duties at provincial or subgroup conferences or meetings are to be introduced by their current title without reference to the campaign they are engaged in. This applies to the periods preceding and following the close of nominations.

10. Campaigning and the distribution of campaign promotional material shall not take place in the meeting room where provincial ATA or subgroup conferences or meetings are held. These activities may occur in the areas outside the meeting rooms.

11. Campaign materials of any type (including standard posters, stand-alone or pull-up posters and stickers) shall not be posted at venues hosting provincial ATA or subgroup conferences or meetings.

1. Campaign contributions from ATA subgroups, ie, locals, specialist councils and teachers’ convention associations, are prohibited.

2. Campaign contributions from school boards or other organizations having a political or financial interest in the ATA or any of its local associations are prohibited.

Financial Reporting

1. All candidates shall, within 30 days of the fixed election date, submit a financial statement accounting for all campaign contributions and expenses.

2. Contributions are to include all self-funded and in-kind contributions, including a list of contributors donating more than $100.

3. Expenses are to be itemized into the categories determined by the ATA.

4.Requirements related to financial reporting apply to any campaign contributions received and expenditures incurred prior to and following the official campaign period.

5. The financial statements of all candidates shall be posted to the Members Only section of the ATA website, following the deadline for financial statement submissions, for a period of 60 days.

Candidates can submit an appeal of their results up to 14 days after the by-election results are announced. The appeal should be addressed to the ATA’s executive secretary.

For details on the appeal process, see section 71 of the Association’s General Bylaws. 

Candidates may participate as a scrutineer on election day and observe the returning officer accessing the e‑mail containing the results. They may also appoint a designate to attend in their place. Candidates choosing this option

• must advise the elections administrative officer of their participation on or before December 11, 2024, and
• are responsible for any and all costs incurred while participating as a scrutineer.