The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) removed Alberta country singer Paul Brandt from the speaking schedule at a teachers’ convention in Edmonton last week, but has not said why.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she is “immensely disappointed” by the teachers’ association decision to cut Brandt as a keynote speaker at the North Central Teachers Convention, which took place in Edmonton from Feb. 5-6.
The ATA and Alberta’s United Conservative Party have clashed in the past, including on a policy regarding sexually explicit content in school libraries, and on the recent strike by the ATA union, which the UCP ended by using the notwithstanding clause.
The ATA told The Epoch Times in an email that Brandt was “not a part of the North Central Teachers Convention programming this year,” when asked about its decision to remove Brandt as a speaker.
When asked for further clarification, the ATA replied that Brandt was “originally scheduled to speak, but was not included in the final schedule.” The association said it was unable to offer further comment.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner took to social media to comment on the cancellation. She described Brandt as “a model citizen who has used his platform to make the world a safer place for vulnerable persons.”
Brandt is an Alberta-born country music artist and an anti-human trafficking advocate who co-chairs the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons. His organization, Not in My City, works to raise awareness and combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Brandt has appeared at various events representing his organization. The ATA didn’t clarify what he was originally invited to speak about. Brandt didn’t respond to a request for comment by publication time.
Brandt’s organization is active in opposing an Oct. 31 Supreme Court decision that reduced mandatory one-year jail sentences for possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material.
