ATA News Issue 60-3

The ATA News , October 14, 2025 ❚ 9

Alberta teachers named to national advisory committees

Lindsay Yakimyshyn ATA News Managing Editor T hree Alberta teachers are set to bring provincial perspectives to the national stage after being appointed to Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/ FCE) advisory committees. This year, Betty Fu, Isabelle Barre Czarnecki and Joshua LaFleur begin two-year terms on national committees focusing on the status of women, French as a first language and the teaching profession respectively. Their appointments give the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) representation on four of the CTF/ FCE’s five advisory committees. Fu, a Curriculum and Learning Supports program coordinator with Edmonton Public Schools, said she will draw from her experience on local ATA committees, the Science Council executive and the CTF/FCE’s Teaching Together program in her work on the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women. “These experiences showed me the value of building relationships with educators and learning from their diverse experiences,” Fu said. “As an Alberta teacher, I hope to share the issues we face as we continue to advocate for the importance of public education.” Fu added that she looks forward to representing Alberta teachers on a committee that works to improve equity.

Isabelle Barre Czarnecki

Joshua LaFleur

Betty Fu

“I hope to contribute my perspective on the unique challenges faced by women and other equity-denied communities within the teaching profession,” she said. Barre Czarnecki, a francophone teacher with the East Central Francophone Education Region, said she is honoured to represent her colleagues. Originally from France and now active in her ATA local, she is passionate about strengthening francophone education in Alberta and across Canada. She will serve on the Advisory Committee on French as a First Language. “It’s an opportunity and a responsibility, too, to represent teachers from Alberta and work with colleagues

across Canada,” she said.“It’s not only a way to share my voice but also to learn more about francophone education across the country with all the teachers. Together, we can build strategies.” LaFleur, a learning specialist with Rocky View Schools, also looks forward to collaborating nationally as part of the Advisory Committee on the Teaching Profession. “I have loved learning from colleagues around Alberta on provincial committees and wanted to learn from teachers across Canada,” said LaFleur. “It is always so helpful to see what is happening in other spaces.” Having served on several ATA subgroups and currently pursuing doctoral studies, LaFleur encourages

other teachers to grow and share their experiences by getting involved locally or through committees. “[They are] a place for support, encouragement and many valuable ideas,” LaFleur said. Together, Alberta’s representatives to CTF advisory committees are helping shape the future of education in Canada, ensuring the voices of Alberta teachers are heard. Each year, the Alberta Teachers’ Association nominates members to serve on CTF/FCE advisory committees. Opportunities and application information are posted on the ATA’s website each spring under Advocacy > Volunteer.

Council authorizes support for challenge of Bill 27

PEC POINTS Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meetings held June 24, August 12–14, August 21, August 28, September 9 and September 10, 2025 1. Appointed members to the Central Strike Action Committee (CSAC). 2. Authorized the purchase of additional lawn signs to support advocacy around teacher collective bargaining. 3. Authorized one member of staff and two members of CSAC to attend the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Strike Captain Training (online or in person) and to report to Council on anything applicable to the Association’s organizing for job action. 4. Authorized staff to publicize a guide for members in regards to Ministerial Order 030/2025 (Standards for the Selection, Availability and Access of School Library Materials), that outlines the reaches and the limits of the ministerial order; outlines members’ rights and obligations under the ministerial order, including teachers’autonomy to select materials for use in their classrooms and their personal classroom libraries; outlines steps a member should take should they be compelled to remove educational material from their school or classroom library; emphasizes how members will be supported by the Association when they are challenged over their selection of materials; and outlines what members can do to voice

opposition to and lawfully resist the ministerial order. 5. Approved the name of one teacher for inclusion in the name bank from which Association instructors are selected. 6. Authorized $800,000 to fund strike- related activities and demonstrations allocated in the appropriate fiscal year. 7. Authorized that the Association go forward with the recommendations of the CSAC, solidifying the communication strategy for rollout as soon as possible. 8. Authorized that the Association set 2025 10 06 to commence a strike, as authorized by members on 2025 06 10, and to provide notice of a strike commencing on 2025 10 06 by 2025 09 12. 9. Advise the government, members and the public of the Association’s willingness to engage in expedited negotiations, effective immediately. 10. Authorized and directed the Central Table Bargaining Committee to prepare a revised position in response to the government’s last tabled position for the purpose of resuming bargaining. 11. Authorized that the Association propose to the government a joint embargo on public commentary concerning bargaining for a mutually agreeable period. 12. Directed that, in the event of a strike, the Association will engage members in demonstrations and protests but will not conduct pickets at schools or other places of teacher work. 13. Authorized that strike action commencing 2025 10 06 will consist of a withdrawal of all services in all

jurisdictions and schools throughout the province, without exception. Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held September 18–19, 2025, at Barnett House, Edmonton 1. Approved in principle the final form of seven electoral ballots proposed by local associations and three Council- sponsored electoral ballots for distribution to the membership. 2. Approved a statement of Association program emphases for 2025/26. 3. Authorized financial assistance in the amount of $15,000 to Egale Canada in support of its constitutional challenge of the Government of Alberta’s Education Amendment Act , 2024 (Bill 27). 4. Authorized disbursement of the 2025/26 international cooperation budget for international goals, including Teachers’ Action for Teaching Project Overseas, Change for Children PD by Alberta Teachers, Tools for Schools Africa Foundation and Right to Learn Afghanistan. 5. Due to an ongoing decline in the demand for field service support from the Professional Development facilitator corps, the following decisions were made: a. approved that the Professional Development facilitator corps be reduced to five members for the duration of the 2025/26 school year, with thanks to the members no longer serving; b. authorized, effective immediately, that Professional Development

facilitators no longer receive an annual honorarium and are compensated for field service rendered; c. approved that all duties currently assigned to the Professional Development facilitator corps be transferred to the Association instructor corps during the 2025/26 school year; and d. approved that the Professional Development facilitator corps be dissolved, effective 2026 06 30. 6. Approved, as the position of Council, recommendations on the six- year review of policy and authorized locals be informed accordingly. 7. Approved, for submission to the 2026 Annual Representative Assembly, the proposed Disposition of Immediate Directives. 8. Approved two executive resolutions for submission to the 2026 Annual Representative Assembly. 9. Named field members to field experiences committees and the Substitute Teachers Committee, named a member to the Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC), and appointed a chair to the CTBC and the Central Strike Action Committee. DID YOU KNOW? Association administrative guidelines provide for the attendance of observers at selected portions of PEC meetings. Association members who are interested in observing selected portions of PEC meetings at their own expense are advised to contact their district representative.

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