For the second time in a month that has seen only four school days, Jasper students walked out of school in support of their teachers.

After taking strike action on October 6, yesterday approximately 51,000 educators were forced back to work by the Alberta Government.

Today (Thursday, October 30), about two dozen students marched out of their classrooms to Jasper’s Central Business District, shouting slogans of “We support the teachers!” and “Fund our Education!” 

Early Tuesday morning the United Conservative Party forced through the Back to School Act (Bill 2), invoking the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights to quash the strike and impose a collective contract on teachers. 

Critics have called the charter override unconstitutional, suggesting it tramples on teachers’ rights. The government has defended the move as necessary for student learning.

Jasper Senior High Schooler student Rylan Wadsworth walked out of class on Thursday in solidarity with teachers. The Gr. 12 student said he was disappointed that Alberta educators had a contract that they didn’t want forced upon them.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” he said. “The strike made close to no improvements.”

Bill 2 sets financial penalties of $500 per day for teachers who defy the back-to-work order and up to $500,000 for the union per day, if it doesn’t comply with the legislation. The bill also suspends bargaining at local tables until 2028. 

Gr. 11 student Naim Tremblay, who attends the francophone school Ecole Desrochers, said not adequately funding education will hurt Alberta’s students in the long run.

“We need to invest in our future,” he said.

Alberta union leaders are considering their next move. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan has called Bill 2 a “war on workers.”

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com