The Alberta government plans to introduce back-to-work legislation aimed at ending a teachers' strike that has lasted more than three weeks. Finance Minister Nate Horner is expected to present Bill 2, known as the Back to School Act, on Monday afternoon. This legislation would require thousands of striking teachers to return to their classrooms.

The legislative order paper outlines measures to expedite the bill's passage. These include holding evening sessions and limiting debates to one hour at each stage of the legislative process. The legislature is scheduled to resume at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, with the bill anticipated to be introduced between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Since October 6, over 51,000 teachers across Alberta have been on strike, as negotiations for a new contract have stalled. Premier Danielle Smith has expressed concern that the prolonged absence from classrooms is causing irreparable harm to approximately 750,000 students.

Key issues in the negotiations include wages, classroom resources, and the size and complexity of classrooms. The government has not dismissed the possibility of invoking Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, commonly referred to as the notwithstanding clause. This clause would protect the legislation from potential legal challenges. However, Alberta unions have warned of an "unprecedented response" if this occurs, arguing that it undermines the constitutionally protected right to strike.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association has stated it is awaiting further details on the proposed legislation before issuing a comment. In a historical context, back-to-work legislation was previously used in 2002 by then-premier Ralph Klein to mandate that 16,000 striking teachers return to work.

As the strike continues, teachers and their supporters have rallied outside the Alberta Legislature, advocating for a fair deal. The situation remains fluid as the government prepares to take action to resolve the ongoing labor dispute.