Injunction hearing on Alberta’s Back to School Act underway

The Alberta Teachers' Association was in court Wednesday arguing for the suspension of Bill 2 pending the outcome of a broader legal challenge.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is in court Wednesday and Thursday for an injunction hearing determining the pending suspension of Bill 2.

Bill 2: The Back to School Act, used the notwithstanding clause to send striking teachers back to classrooms and imposed a collective agreement that teachers widely rejected in September.

The injunction hearing will determine whether Bill 2 should be suspended pending the outcome of the ATA’s broader legal challenge of the legislation.

The broader legal challenge includes the ATA asking the court to declare the provincial government’s use of the notwithstanding clause improper and invalid, Section 14 of the bill unconstitutional, and Bill 2 a violation of charter rights to freedom of association and expression.

A decision on the injunction is expected mid-March, said the ATA.