Teachers or trustees?

• Author: Mitchell, Teresa
• Position: Bench Press

In 2004 the Alberta government amended the Local Authorities Election Act to say that school teachers could not run for election as school board trustees anywhere in Alberta unless they took a leave of absence and then resigned if they were elected. Previously, the law had stated that teachers were prohibited from running as school board trustees only in the jurisdiction in which they were employed. Several teachers were successful in challenging the amendment as a violation of their Charter rights to freedom of expression and equal treatment under the law but the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that the new law did not violate the teachers' rights. The Supreme Court of Canada agreed, dismissing the teachers' appeal. It...