Charter rights matter. That is the central message behind the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s (ATA) ongoing advocacy campaign against the province’s use of the notwithstanding clause. The ATA has been both vocal and visible on the issue and is now intensifying its efforts.
Through public messaging and direct communication with members, the ATA is working to raise awareness among teachers, parents and the broader public about what is at stake when fundamental rights are suspended.
“Our rights were taken away, but we can and will continue to be vocal about the impact Bill 2, the Back to School Act, and the notwithstanding clause have had on teachers,” said ATA president Jason Schilling.
As part of this effort, members and the public are being directed to the Progress Not Promises website, where they can learn more about the ATA’s advocacy and access tools to engage with elected officials, including a template letter to send to local MLAs. The initiative is intended to empower Albertans to raise concerns about the use of the notwithstanding clause and to call for meaningful progress on education policy and funding.
The ATA has also expanded its outreach to parents and communities through social media, linking teachers’ working conditions to students’ learning conditions. Messaging further connects teachers’ rights to Alberta’s identity as a strong and free province, underscoring the broader implications of invoking the notwithstanding clause.
“The notwithstanding clause didn’t just affect teachers,” Schilling said. “It raised questions about the charter rights of every individual in our province.”
Advocacy efforts have also extended into broader public forums, including advertising and commentary on programs such as The Ryan Jespersen Show, encouraging audiences to reflect on core Alberta values and ask why teachers’ rights are being suspended in the province.
The current campaign builds on momentum from recent strike action, during which ATA members played a key role in raising public awareness about the challenges facing public education. Schilling said the ATA remains focused on holding govern-ment accountable for both education funding and respect for teachers’ rights.
“Through this advocacy, the ATA is reaffirming that defending teachers’ rights is inseparable from defending public education itself—and that this work is far from over,” he said.
