Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling has issued the following statement with regards to the campaign video and subsequent resignation of Torry Tanner.
“We note that Torry Tanner has resigned as a candidate in the next provincial election.
“Her comments regarding the teaching profession in Alberta are deeply offensive and simply untrue. They served only to undermine public education and to further stigmatize LGBTQ2+ Albertans.
“Tanner’s notice of resignation falls well short. She faults only her ‘choice of words,’ not the lies she embraced, and regrets only that they might hurt the prospects of the United Conservative Party in the next election.
“Tanner still owes Albertans a true apology and a full retraction of her falsehoods. And teachers and gender minority Albertans still expect clear and unequivocal statements from the minister of education and the premier disavowing Tanner’s original comments.
“As leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Danielle Smith must provide assurance that Tanner’s earlier statements do not reflect the policy or values of the UCP and that such hateful beliefs and misinformation have no place in the political life of this province.”
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.