Bill 2 Could End Alberta Teachers’ Strike and Send Students Back to Class by Wednesday

After nearly a month of disrupted learning, Alberta’s government says help is finally on the way for students and parents. If passed, Bill 2 – the Back to School Act – would end the province-wide teachers’ strike and see students return to class as early as Wednesday, October 29.

 

Premier Danielle Smith says the legislation is necessary to restore stability and put students first. “This strike has gone on long enough,” Smith said. “The Back to School Act refocuses everyone on what matters most — the education of Alberta’s students. Bill 2 puts students back at the centre of our system, while we continue to work with teachers and families to build lasting stability in Alberta’s schools.”

 

What’s in the Bill

 

If approved, the Back to School Act would legislate the September 2025 tentative agreement that had been recommended by Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) leadership before talks broke down. The deal includes:

▪️ A 12% salary increase over four years

▪️ Market adjustments of up to 17% for most teachers

▪️ Funding to hire 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 educational assistants

▪️ A four-year agreement running from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028

 

The bill also includes financial penalties for non-compliance and would suspend local bargaining during the term of the agreement to prevent further disruption.

 

Finance Minister Nate Horner said the legislation is about bringing stability back to classrooms. “The time for labour stability is now. This legislation provides a positive path forward despite an interrupted school year. If Bill 2 is passed, it is my hope that classes will resume as soon as Wednesday, October 29.”

 

Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the province won’t hesitate to use every legal tool to protect students. “This strike has reached a point that is causing irreparable harm on student learning,” he said. “We believe invoking the notwithstanding clause is a necessary measure to end the undue hardship caused by the teacher strike.”

 

Addressing Complexity in Alberta Classrooms

 

Alongside the Back to School Act, the province has announced a Class Size and Complexity Task Force to tackle ongoing issues inside Alberta classrooms — including student aggression, diverse learning needs, and rising behavioural challenges.

 

The task force will build on the work of the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team, which has spent months consulting teachers, families, and education experts. Its recommendations will guide efforts to replace Alberta’s outdated 2004 Standards for Special Education and create a new roadmap for safer, more supportive classrooms.

 

Premier Smith said these actions respond directly to what educators have been asking for. “Teachers have made it clear that addressing classroom complexity and safety are among the most critical improvements needed in our education system,” she said. “We are strengthening classroom supports, hiring more staff, and acting on the recommendations of the action team so that every child can succeed.”

 

Over the next three years, school boards will be funded to hire thousands of new teachers and educational assistants and expand access to supports such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech-language services.

 

What Happens Next

 

The Back to School Act is expected to be debated in the Legislature this week. If it passes, Alberta’s 730,000 students could be back in class by Wednesday, October 29, marking the end of the longest teachers’ strike in provincial history.

 

Alberta’s government says the legislation and new classroom initiatives together represent a “reset moment” for the province’s education system — one that puts students, teachers, and stability back at the heart of learning.