Jackie Shukin

Biology teacher in Red Deer, Alberta.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@ABDanielleSmith Does this apply to teachers as well, or just the Albertans who haven’t had their rights stripped for the next four years?

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@demetriosnAB Except put in place a class size cap, or fund public education anywhere near the national average, or give teachers the right to negotiate our contract…

[Don Braid @DonBraid]

Again: An appalling, unjust, law drives teachers back to work. The most dangerous precedent Alberta has seen In many years. Column. https://t.co/GxJzRvokWJ #abed #ableg #abpoli #yyc #yeg #cdnpoliAgain

[Peter Guthrie @PeterGuthrie99]

The Notwithstanding Clause – Meant for Balance, used for Control

The notwithstanding clause was added to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 as a narrow safeguard, not a political weapon. It was meant for rare, exceptional cases - when a court ruling unintentionally overreached and threatened the democratic will of the people.

With Bill 2, the “Back to Work” legislation, this Wildrose government crossed that line. This isn’t about provincial jurisdiction - it’s about using state power to override individual rights whenever they get in the way of political objectives.

By invoking the clause to force teachers back to work, the government chose control over collaboration.

Teachers deserve respect and dialogue, not coercion. They’ve carried Alberta’s classrooms through overcrowding, complexity, and years of under-resourcing. Forcing compliance isn’t leadership - it’s constitutional abuse.

True conservatives value restraint, accountability, and freedom. The Charter ensures no government can strip away basic rights without scrutiny.

By normalizing the notwithstanding clause as a political tool, this Wildrose government weakens protections that belong to every Albertan - not just today, but for generations.

Strong leaders listen before legislating.

Albertans want solutions - not scapegoats.

#ableg #ABpoli #albertapc #abpc

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

Sounds like a dystopian plot that is right up your alley! So, my humble request… Could we get another “short story” to lift the spirits of teachers before we are ordered back tomorrow? 🙏

Signed, a discouraged teacher.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

Hi @MargaretAtwood, big fan! I’m not sure if you have kept up with the teacher strike that is taking place in Alberta after our government’s disastrous book ban, but Danielle Smith just used the notwithstanding clause to remove the charter rights of teachers.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

Not only does Bill 2 force us back to work, it imposes a contract that 90% of teachers voted NO to, and prohibits us from taking any job action for the next 3 years. In true dictator form, this leaves Alberta with the lowest per-student funding in Canada.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@ABDanielleSmith 90% of teachers rejected this offer. Twice. This strike could have been over before it started had you given TEBA the mandate to bargain in good faith.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@demetriosnAB Then why has there been no attempt at bargaining for the last three weeks? We are still waiting for a counter-proposal from TEBA…

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@demetriosnAB Minister, teachers have been exceedingly clear about the types of supports we require. Please give TEBA the mandate to actually listen to the ATA bargaining team this time and negotiate a fair deal in good faith.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@NateHornerAB This is incredibly disingenuous. The “significant” salary increase was the same offer that was rejected by teachers in the spring. The bargaining committee has been very clear: until salary restoration matches offers made to other public sectors, it is not fair nor competitive.

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@rdpschools @LindsayThurber Congratulations Fahd!

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@bunsenbernerbmd He has the sweetest little face 🥹

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@demetriosnAB Then why not fund public schools appropriately so that we can continue to offer diverse programming free of charge?

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@ABDanielleSmith Does that mean you will be re-implementing the utilities cap that you removed when the UCP were first elected??

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

Our school librarians are the real mvp’s

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

@bunsenbernerbmd Amazing! Almost makes me want to stay up passed 9pm

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

2023 ATA Bonspiel champs! #ltchsscience

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

To clarify, she did determine that the eggs coated with a high-fluoride toothpaste lost less mass than those coated in fluoride-free toothpaste (thus demonstrating that fluoride helps protect enamel from acid erosion). It’s the discolouration that was… unexpected?

[Jackie Shukin @shukinscience]

Looking for some dental “eggspertise”… why would my student have found that toothpaste with a higher fluoride concentration led to more significant discolouration of enamel when soaked in cola?? #ibbiology