October 31, 2025
Satinder Sukraat
Alberta’s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides defended the government’s decision to introduce Bill 2 during an interview on RED FM Friday morning, saying the legislation was needed to end the three-week teachers’ strike and bring students back to school.
Nicolaides said the government acted out of concern for students’ academic progress and emotional well-being, which he argued were being affected by the prolonged classroom closures.
Under Bill 2, most Alberta teachers will receive a 17 per cent pay increase, while the province has committed to hiring 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 additional educational assistants over the next three years. The minister said these measures are aimed at reducing class sizes and ensuring students receive the support they need.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association has criticized the move, calling it an overreach that undermines teachers’ bargaining rights. Despite the controversy, the government maintains that Bill 2 was necessary to protect students and restore stability to Alberta’s education system.
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