October 16, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she plans to establish a commission on education once the provincewide teachers’ strike comes to an end.
Smith emphasized her preference for a negotiated agreement with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, which represents 51,000 educators who walked off the job on October 6.
She stated that the province needs to explore “new models” to address ongoing challenges in classrooms, particularly around complexity and student support.
Key issues in the dispute include teacher wages, classroom sizes, and a lack of adequate supports.
Smith’s proposal to form a commission is reminiscent of a similar effort following Alberta’s last major teachers’ strike in 2002, which reviewed the overall state of the education system.
She made these remarks during an event hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, as thousands of demonstrators rallied outside, calling for greater investment in education. According to police estimates, the crowd numbered between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
However, ATA president Jason Schilling responded by saying the union isn’t interested in more studies or commissions, but in immediate action to improve classroom conditions.
Both the government and the union confirmed there is no update on when bargaining will resume.
Premier Smith also noted that if the strike appears to be causing long-term damage, her government may consider legislating teachers back to work during the final week of October, once the legislature reconvenes.
The strike has kept approximately 740,000 students out of 2,500 schools for eight school days so far.
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