Smith dangles offer of money for parents of school kids in a strike
By Lethbridge Herald on October 1, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Premier Danielle Smith is offering to pay parents in the event that Alberta teachers walk off the job on Oct. 6.
“What was offered to Alberta’s educators is very generous,” Smith told media Tuesday. She suggested that to go on strike without offering meaningful and reasonable solutions would be harmful to students and parents.Â
“Our government will not leave 700,000 Alberta students and their families without resources as the union advances towards a strike. Please know that if the union goes ahead and we do see job action on Oct. 6, that government has plans in place to help students and families.”
She said the government has taken steps to ensure kids can keep learning and parents are compensated for expenses they may face from the union’s actions. Eligible parents or guardians would receive $150 per week per student for the duration of a labour action by the ATA, according to a government statement. The money will come from unused educational grants.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said that in addition to the parent payment program, a toolkit to help parents support their child’s learning will become available for parents and guardians to help kids remain engaged with their education.Â
“This toolkit provides a week-by-week guide for parents to follow the Alberta curriculum,” Nicolaides said. “It focuses on core subjects of language arts, social studies, math, and sciences including chemistry, biology and physics,” said Nicolaides.Â
For each week and core subject, the toolkit begins with a Learn component on Monday with select videos and other information to help students learn the concepts outlined for that week.Â
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays provide parents with practice questions, worksheets and other activities to help students practice the new concepts that they have learned, and Fridays are designated as Mastery days where students can delve deeper into the content.Â
“The toolkit…is not a mandatory requirement but is a tool I’m sure many parents will find useful,” said Nicolaides.Â
The tool kits, available on the government’s website, Alberta.ca, will be updated weekly.Â
Smith was asked if government would be calling legislature back earlier to introduce a back to work legislation in case of a strike.
“No, we’re scheduled to return to the legislature Oct. 23, and regular business starts on Oct. 27. I think what we were hoping for is that the teachers will withdraw their threat of strike and get back to the bargaining table so that we can avoid job action.”
14-13
Government interference in the bargaining process contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art2d.html
Government interference & collective bargaining: An Albertan perspective
Shannon Lohner
“Government interference in the bargaining process is an attempt to undermine a union’s ability to effectively engage in its federally protected rights.”
“Government interference impacts the integrity of the collective bargaining process.”
“…government interference in the collective bargaining process
politicizes…workers rights.”
https://www.nasa.ualberta.ca/system/files/Shannon%20Essay.pdf
The bargaining was/is between TEBA and the ATA. TEBA consist of 8 appointed members by the government and 7 from school districts. The NDP is well represented with ATA members and the 7 members of the school district. It is the whining a wailing doesn’t seem to be as effective as it once was. After 50 years of listening to rants and tantrums it has grown old. And now we have SDS, identity politics blaming one person for everything. So who would run a better government, Nenshi? Where is Miyashiro on all this?
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/premier-smith-remains-silent-as-calls-for-resignation-grow-louder-following-ahs-political-interference-allegations/
When Danielle Smith and the UCP get desperate, out comes the bribe money. Worst premier and provincial government in Alberta’s history.
If there is a strike starting on Oct 06 and if it drags on for 10 days Smith will recall the legislature and force the teachers back to work. Her popularity is in the toilet now and a lengthy school shutdown would be intolerable. She can’t be punted out of office soon enough.