The Alberta government is expected to introduce back-to-work legislation that would send thousands of striking teachers back to classrooms after more than three weeks off the job.
Bill 2, the Back to School Act, is set to be introduced later Monday afternoon by Finance Minister Nate Horner, according to the legislative order paper .
The document also sets out a number of measures the government can take to accelerate the the bill’s passage, including holding evening sittings and limiting debates to one hour at each step of the legislative process.
The legislature resumes its daily business at 1:30 p.m. on Monday with the bill expected to come between then and 3 p.m.
More than 51,000 teachers have been on strike across the province since Oct. 6, with the two sides remaining unable to make progress on a new deal.
Premier Danielle Smith has suggested that the three-plus weeks out of the classroom represents irreparable harm to the approximately 750,000 affected students.
Wages, resources, as well as classroom size and complexities remain the main issues between the two sides.
The government has also not ruled out using Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, better known as the notwithstanding clause, to insulate the legislation from potential future legal challenges.
Alberta unions have warned of an “unprecedented response” should that occur, saying the use of the controversial clause usurps the constitutionally-protected right to strike.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association has said it is awaiting more details on the legislation before commenting.
In 2002, then-premier Ralph Klein used back-to-work legislation to force 16,000 striking teachers back to classrooms.
More to come.
