The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA), representing 51,000 teachers, has voiced strong opposition to any immigration referendum questions that could limit access to public education. ATA president Jason Schilling emphasized that a child's immigration status should not determine their eligibility for Alberta's publicly funded education system.
ATA President's Statement
"Children do not choose their immigration status, and they should not be denied an education because of it," Schilling said in a press release on Tuesday afternoon. He stressed that every child in Alberta deserves access to publicly funded education, regardless of their background.
"Every child who walks through a school door in this province deserves to be there. This should not be a political question. It is a commitment every Albertan should be proud to uphold," Schilling added.
Referendum Details
On October 19, Albertans will vote on 10 referendum questions, five of which pertain to immigration. If approved, these measures would give Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party (UCP) government a mandate to make significant changes to who can access publicly funded systems like education and healthcare. This could also result in certain immigrants being charged premiums for education and health services.
Human Rights Concerns
Schilling pointed out that Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both of which recognize education as a fundamental right for every child. He also expressed concerns about school staff potentially being forced to act as "immigration authorities."
Postmedia has reached out to the provincial government for comment on the ATA's position.
