Bill 85 to create online public registry of Alberta teachers, streamline disciplinary process
A bill tabled in the Alberta legislature could see an online registry created in the province that would allow parents to view more information about a teacher or teacher leader, including any disciplinary action they may have faced.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange introduced Bill 85 — the Students First Act — on Tuesday afternoon. If passed, Bill 85 would also shorten the judicial review period for disciplinary decisions from six months to 60 days, and would require the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) to notify Alberta Education about all complaints made about its members.
"By making disciplinary matters more transparent, we will ensure safety for students, confidence for parents and accountability for teachers," reads part of a statement from LaGrange.
"The vast majority of teachers across Alberta are incredible, hard-working educators who have the best interest of their students at heart. However, when instances of professional misconduct or criminal wrongdoing do arise, they need to be dealt with quickly and transparently."
Alberta NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, calling the bill nothing more than a way to distract from ongoing issues.
"It's "disappointing that Minister LaGrange is using her time in the legislature to duplicate existing measures when she should be working to fix the problems she has created in our schools."
“Alberta students will be struggling to catch up on years of learning loss due to her failure to keep students safe through the pandemic," it read.
“She has taken away educational assistants and other supports that students with complex needs rely on.
“She is forcing a backward, racist, and age-inappropriate curriculum on students, staff and families who have overwhelmingly rejected it.
“Just this month, we learned that students across Alberta are in danger of losing their school bus transportation because the UCP chose to help their friends in the insurance industry rather than protect working families.
“This bill is a cynical attempt to distract from the catalog of harm Adriana LaGrange has caused to Alberta’s education system.”
Bill 85 would also cut the number of ATA committees from six to three and would include teachers appointed to the positions along with public members appointed by the minister. The education minister would still have final say on whether a teacher should have their certificate suspended or revoked.
The online registry would be searchable and would show the names of teachers, the type of certificates they hold and whether any of those certificates have been suspended or cancelled since 1990.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.