Education advocates rally outside Alberta education minister’s Calgary office

On Friday, the Calgary constituency office of Alberta's education minister was the site of a protest regarding growing classroom concerns.

Dozens gathered outside the constituency office of Alberta’s education minister to voice concern over what they describe as a system in crisis.

The Friday demonstration, organized by Public Interest Alberta, highlighted concerns around underfunding, overcrowding and deteriorating working and learning conditions in Alberta schools.

“Classrooms are bursting at the seams, teachers are burning out and students are falling through the cracks,” said Bradley Lafortune, executive director of Public Interest Alberta.

“This government’s neglect has left Alberta’s schools in crisis. Minister (Demetrios) Nicolaides and the UCP must start respecting teachers, funding classrooms and prioritizing kids over politics.”

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As part of the rally, organizers delivered an “Alternative Mandate for Education” to the minister’s office.

It was locked and the lights were out.

The mandate outlined key policy demands, including:

• Construction of additional schools to alleviate overcrowding;
• Increased hiring of teachers, additional assistants and support staff;
• Investment in safer, more inclusive learning environments; and
• Greater accountability and transparency in public education’s funding.

“Teachers aren’t asking for the moon—they’re asking for enough. Enough support, enough resources and enough respect,” said Lafortune.

“We’re a non-partisan organization, but when it comes to public education, it’s a public service. It’s the right of every student in the province to have a high-quality public education.”

Elsewhere at the rally, one high school parent tried to drum up support for a Nicolaides recall petition.

“I’m going to help the teachers by supporting a recall campaign as they strike, to help (the provincial government) understand this isn’t just about wages,” Jenny Yeremiy told CTV News.

“This is about looking after kids and making sure that long-term, we actually have a system that functions.

“As a parent, I’m concerned the government doesn’t care.”

Teachers vote on tentative agreement

Alberta teachers will vote on a tentative agreement reached by the union and the province ahead of a planned Oct. 6 strike.

An agreement copy obtained by The Canadian Press shows the deal varies little from the government’s standing offer, though one change is the province will cover COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.

It falls in line with the province promising the shots for workers in other sectors, including health care.

Most Albertans will have to pay $100 for the vaccine starting this year.

The tentative deal includes the same salary increase of 12 per cent over four years that was rejected by teachers this past spring.

It also repeats the government’s previous commitment to hire 3,000 more teachers over three years to address classroom crowding.

Also included are annual pay bumps of three per cent for substitute teachers for a full day of work and a commitment to hire 1,500 full-time educational assistants before the summer of 2028.

Alberta’s Finance Minister Nate Horner said in a statement the tentative deal is “strong on classroom investment.”

The union, meanwhile, has yet to comment.

It has taken a position of neutrality when addressing members.

Results are expected to go public after voting closes Monday night.