Alberta’s 31st legislature resumed on October 23 with a speech from the throne. The sitting is scheduled to run until November 27. Here is a summary of the education-related discussions that took place in question period from October 28 to November 3.
October 28, 2025:
Bill 2 and Notwithstanding Clause
Naheed Nenshi (NDP, Calgary-Buffalo) questioned why the government invoked the notwithstanding clause instead of allowing courts to review back-to-work legislation while students returned. He argued it was a pre-emptive and unprecedented decision.
Minister of Finance Nate Horner said the longest education strike in Canadian history required balancing teachers’ rights to strike with students’ right to education. He argued certainty was needed given Alberta’s two-tier bargaining structure and said the clause was used deliberately and within constitutional authority. Nenshi asked why the government abandoned its own rhetoric about inalienable rights and respect for the Supreme Court. Horner said section 33 is part of the Constitution and the situation was unique due to local and central bargaining dynamics.
Nenshi asked whether the government would commit to never pre-emptively using the clause again. Horner replied he finds it difficult to imagine its use in other public-sector bargaining situations but would not forfeit the tool.
October 29, 2025:
Collective Bargaining with Teachers
Nenshi said that parents, teachers and students returned to school with mixed emotions and argued the disruption was avoidable. He accused the government of ignoring class-size issues and failing to use available labour-relations tools to prevent the strike. He asked why the government refused early intervention mechanisms such as a dispute inquiry board.
Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides said families were pleased students returned to school and emphasized that children belong in classrooms for academic and emotional well-being. Horner defended the government’s actions, saying options were considered carefully and that other paths, such as a dispute inquiry board or arbitration, could have prolonged instability and led to further strikes. He reiterated that the government preferred to negotiate an agreement, noting the government accepted two recommended deals and offered enhanced mediation.
Nenshi said negotiated agreements are always preferable and argued the government was unwilling or unable to bargain constructively. Horner countered that the government did not engineer the strike and pointed to prior agreements with other unions as evidence of good-faith bargaining
November 3, 2025:
Education Funding
Court Ellingson (NDP, Calgary-Foothills) challenged the government for legislating teachers back to work while underfunding education, arguing that budgets have not kept pace with population growth and inflation, leaving school boards struggling with rising enrolment and operating costs.
Horner replied that health care and education remain government priorities, and stressed limited provincial resources and ongoing budget pressures.
Ellingson pressed further, criticizing the move to a rolling-average funding formula, saying it forced overcrowding and inadequate learning spaces and, ultimately, contributed to the teacher strike.
Nicolaides rejected the premise, noting the province recently shifted from a three-year to a two-year funding model at school boards’ request and pointing to supplemental enrolment grants.
Ellingson concluded by accusing the Treasury Board and Finance of driving the lowest per-student funding in the country.
Horner defended the government’s approach, citing low oil prices and a projected deficit. He also commented that Alberta is still delivering the largest public-sector wage increases in two decades to support recruitment and retention.
