Commentary
When the Alberta teachers’ union overwhelmingly voted to begin a strike on Oct. 6, despite what appeared to be a reasonable offer on the table, citizens were confused. The government was prepared to give teachers a 12 percent raise, along with a commitment to hire 3,000 more teachers and 1,500 more educational assistants. It addressed what were considered the teachers’ prime concerns. The province is also investing $8.6 billion to construct new schools and add 200,000 educational spaces by 2031.
