Overview

• Roughly 51,000 Alberta Teachers’ Association members walked off the job on Oct. 6 after more than 89% rejected a tentative deal that included a 12% raise over four years and thousands of new hires.
• Calgary’s public and Catholic boards have suspended classes, bus service and extracurriculars until further notice, though most on-site childcare is continuing.
• Premier Danielle Smith has urged teachers to resume bargaining, saying talks should focus on classroom complexity, while ATA leaders cite overcrowding and inadequate supports as core issues.
• The Canadian Federation of Independent Business cautioned the work stoppage will strain staffing and sales for small firms and pressed for a swift settlement.
• Separately in Toronto, police are investigating a Moss Park collision in which a woman about 30 was struck by a minivan and remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries, with investigators seeking video and witnesses.