ATA head blasts UCP over trans-gender legislation
By Lethbridge Herald on November 20, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
The Alberta Teachers Association is condemning the repeated use of the notwithstanding clause by the Alberta government.
After the provincial government made the decision to use the notwithstanding clause with the introduction of Bill 9, the Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act, during the Legislative Assembly session on Tuesday, ATA president Jason Schilling spoke against it on Wednesday.
“What we saw yesterday is not normal, it is not routine governance, it is a dangerous escalation by a government that has grown far too comfortable reaching for the notwithstanding clause as a political weapon,” said Schilling.
He said the government reached for the notwithstanding clause not once, but three times, this time inside the Education Act, the Health Professions Act and within Chapter F-25 of the statues of Alberta, which will affect the fairness and safety in sports.
“Let me be clear, teachers are partners with parents not opponents. We believe parents play a vital role in their children’s lives.”
He said the union’s concern is a law that prevents teachers and families from working together in a way that supports safety, trust, and student well-being.
“With this move, the government is attempting to place several sections of these acts beyond the reach of the Charter, beyond the Alberta Bill of Rights and beyond the Human Rights Act,” said Schilling.
He called it an extraordinary step that represents a pattern teachers know all too well, and should be deeply concerning for every Albertan.
“What makes yesterday’s move even more concerning is that these policies are tide to sections that are not new. The government passed this legislation over a year ago,” said Schilling.
The attempt to shield these provisions from many judicial oversights by attaching the notwithstanding clause is both new and dangerous, he said.
“Now the government is not simply asserting its policy preferences, it’s trying to ensure that no parent, no teacher, no student, or no court can challenge these decisions even when they affect fundamental rights.”
Schilling said this government is in effect saying that they know these new laws violate Albertans’ rights and they want them to move ahead anyway.
“The sections they’re attempting to shield involves some of the most sensitive areas of education that require nuance.”
He said sections 58.11 and 58.12 require parental notification and consent for instruction that deals explicitly with gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality. It restricts age-appropriate health education, restricts students access to information and undermines the ability for teachers to provide accurate, evidence-based instruction that keeps young people safe.
Section 33-2 mandates parental notification if a student request new pronouns or new preferred name and for younger students, it prohibits the use of pronouns or names without parental consent.
“It forces teachers to report a child’s private conversation even if the child is not ready, even if the child is afraid, even if the child is simply asking a question about who they are becoming,” said Schilling.
Instead of creating safety, he said, it can place vulnerable students at risk of rejection, punishment, or emotional harm. It takes what should be a moment of trust and turns it into a mandatory disclosure.
“Additional provisions prevent schools from using certain resources unless personally approved by the Minister of Education.That means the teacher cannot use a novel, a pamphlet, a slide or even a School Division resource without the minister stamp of approval.”
Schilling said Albertans may hold a different view on these policies, but in a healthy democracy, policies that affect fundamental charter rights must remain open to challenge. They must be able to be reviewed, tested, and held to account.
“What this government is doing is attempting to strip away that oversight. When a government uses the notwithstanding clause to avoid accountability rather than to address an emergency, it undermines the balance of power that is meant to protect.”
He said the ATA wants Albertans to understand that this pattern is not normal and that everyone from teachers to parents, students, and communities want the same thing, safe schools that support children.
“But the decisions that are made need to put people first, especially our young people. Protecting these goals requires transparency, accountability and respect for the democratic safeguards that ensure our rights cannot be overridden.”
He said Alberta teachers will stand with parents, students, and all Albertans in defending the principles that our democracy strong.
“The government needs to know that when they use things like the notwithstanding clause, it demoralizes people, it makes them second class citizens in their province.”
26-25
Says the guy who won re-election by less than 500 votes out of a total vote of around 11000 and out of 51000 available. Even 75% plus per cent of the teachers can’t be bothered voting. In short that is great for the education of our children. Another day another hate the UCP diatribe. Yawn.