Still no deal: Back to work order and recall possible for Alberta’s teachers

By Kaiden Brayshaw, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a summer full of negotiation stalemates and new rules for sport participation and library book restrictions, a petition to recall Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has been officially submitted to Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure.

The petition, filed by Jennifer Yeremiy, needs 16,006 signatures from Calgary-Bow residents between Oct. 23, 2025 and Jan. 21, 2026. The some-16,000 signature requirement represents 60 per cent of the total votes cast in the division’s most recent election. 

This is the first provincial recall petition application approved under the Recall Act.

In her official statement provided to Elections Alberta, Yeremiy says that Nicolaides has demonstrated a clear failure to support public education, instead prioritizing privatization.

Nicolaides is committed to increasing charter-private school funding from $42 million in 2022 to $561 million by 2027, the statement reads. Alberta charter-private schools investment is unmatched across Canada. 

“Meanwhile, public education faces: overcrowded classrooms, inappropriate curricula, inadequate resources, and insufficient funding and staff,” the statement reads.

“Furthermore, Mr. Nicolaides continues to dismiss Alberta’s role in promoting fossil fuel disinformation in schools across the country. “

His actions render him unfit to lead Alberta Education or represent Calgary-Bow, according to the statement.

Nicolaides, in his statement to Elections Alberta, said that the recall of an MLA should not proceed when the stated reason is dissatisfaction with government policy rather than a failure in the member’s core duties. 

“The member for Calgary-Bow was elected in 2023, giving them a mandate to represent constituents and support their party’s platform. Using the recall process to overturn an election based on policy disagreements undermines stable governance and the electoral process,” his statement reads.

Recalls should be reserved for breaches of public trust, ethical violations, or dereliction of duty, not a shortcut to trigger a new election over political differences, according to Nicolaides.  This recall targets the governing party, not the individual.

Once Yeremiy registers canvassers, her and her registered canvassers may collect signatures from eligible residents of Calgary-Bow. Signatures must be collected using the recall petition signature sheets in the format provided by Elections Alberta, according to a government-issued press release.

To be eligible, signers must reside in the Calgary-Bow electoral division for a minimum of three months immediately before their time of signing.

Elections Alberta will verify the petition within 21 days from the date the petition is submitted. Within seven days of completing verification, Elections Alberta will report the results to the applicant, the named member, the party leader, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the release reads.

Results will be published on the Elections Alberta website.

Back to work legislation expected for teachers

With legislation resuming Thursday, the provincial government is expected to issue back-to-work legislation to Alberta’s teachers.

According to a province-issued statement, back-to-work legislation is considered a last resort, not a first option. The government respects the bargaining process and would like to see it produce an effective solution, but is prioritizing student learning and supporting families, the statement reads.

“If the ATA prolongs this strike and keeps our kids out of school, causing long-term irreparable damage to our kids, their education and the economy, the government will legislate the teachers back to work at the start of session,” the province said.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that after three weeks of missed school, students see irreparable harm. Friday, Oct. 24 marks the end of the third week of missed classes province wide.

“We’re still hoping that we get teachers back in the classroom and we can negotiate a settlement, that is by far preferable, but at the moment, we’ve had two negotiated settlements and both have been put to teachers and they’ve been rejected,” she said.