UCP Faces Backlash: Strikes Stir Up Discontent in Calgary
The United Conservative Party is feeling the heat. Recent teacher legislation and looming nurse strike action are fueling public discontent, with Calgarians watching closely.
A province-wide teacher strike began October 6, 2025. It quickly escalated. The UCP government responded by passing Bill 2, the "Back to School Act," on October 28, forcing 51,000 teachers back to work and imposing a collective agreement. This was the largest teacher strike in Alberta's history, impacting 730,000 students across 2,500 schools. Notably, Alberta's K-12 spending per student was the lowest among all Canadian provinces at $13,494 by the time of the strike. To prevent legal challenges, the government invoked the controversial "notwithstanding clause." This marks the first time an Alberta government has used the clause to override Charter rights in a labour dispute, a move described as unprecedented in provincial labour history.
Meanwhile, another labour storm gathers. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), representing 16,000 licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides, voted 98% in favour of strike action between October 30 and November 3. These essential healthcare workers could hit the picket lines as early as November 17.
Students are not standing idly by. Thousands across Alberta, including many in Calgary, walked out of classes on October 30. They expressed clear frustration over the government's handling of education and its use of the notwithstanding clause. Many Calgary parents expressed deep concern about unresolved issues like overcrowded classrooms, even after teachers were forced back to work.
With the next provincial election scheduled for October 18, 2027, the UCP's standing in Calgary is precarious. A Leger poll from October 10-12, following the start of the teacher's strike, showed the government's education approval rating plummeting to 24%—the lowest since 2023. This wave of protests underscores growing unrest with the current leadership, leaving many Calgarians contemplating their political choices between the UCP and the NDP.
