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The Federation urges enforceable safeguards and educator consultation in addition to privacy and online safety commitments

Ottawa, June 8, 2026 – The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) – representing over 370,000 educators through 18 Member and Associate Organizations – welcomed several commitments in the federal government’s national AI strategy. Until now, policy has not kept up with the rapid pace of AI adoption in K-12 public schools. The strategy begins to address governance gaps that will help protect the rights and well-being of students and teachers.

While K-12 education across Canada falls mostly under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, Ottawa has an essential role in ensuring AI is used responsibly in schools. The CTF/FCE appreciated the strategy’s commitment to modernize online safety and consumer privacy laws, with explicit mention of protecting children. Specific legal tools to mitigate harms arising from AI chatbots, including those used in schools, are essential to address serious threats to young people’s learning and well-being. These are priorities that the Federation had previously urged the Ministry of AI and Digital Innovation to adopt.

“The government names trust as the north star of its strategy, but trust won’t be achieved while risky AI tools are flowing freely into public schools,” said Clint Johnston, President of the CTF/FCE. “For families and young people to trust AI, the government must hold technology companies accountable for ensuring systems are safe by the time they reach classrooms.”

The Federation appreciated the strategy’s commitment to AI literacy, including learning kits for K-12 educators, but warned that the scale falls short. The strategy promises to reach one million post-secondary students, but only 3,000 of Canada’s 420,000-strong public educator workforce. A commitment to train a few thousand teachers is not enough to improve Canada’s position from 44^th of 47 countries on AI literacy. Renewed investment in CanCode may help fill this gap, yet a fragmented approach carries risks. Critical AI literacy must be accessible to schools across the country, including rural, remote, and Indigenous communities which are often left behind. The government must also recognize that AI literacy cannot simply be a pathway to deeper AI adoption in schools. To ensure AI is beneficial in public education, students, educators, and unions must be at the core of defining and developing K-12 digital literacy programs – something that the CTF/FCE is well positioned to facilitate.

High-level commitments within the strategy must now translate into enforceable protections reflected in the classroom. With the strategy strongly encouraging AI adoption, the Federation warned against rapid deployment in schools and called for safety-by-design obligations; independent impact assessments; and procurement standards that match the bar the government has set for its own AI integration in terms of transparency, privacy, and accountability.

The AI Missions Program, while promising, does not make mention of education within its priority sectors. This is a missed opportunity for Canada to be a leader in developing education technologies in partnership with teachers and students, tools which serve the public good while reducing reliance on foreign-owned platforms with a history of data security issues. The CTF/FCE urged that a future AI Mission be dedicated to public-good education technology, co-developed with educators and students, and driven by school needs over profit motives.

“Over 90% of children in Canada attend public schools. Educators are on the frontlines as AI reshapes learning,” said Johnston. “They understand the risks to young people better than most of us, and should be meaningfully consulted on a better, safer path forward.”

The CTF/FCE stands ready to work with the federal government, provinces, and territories to ensure the “human-in-the-loop” principle extends into classrooms, so that the adoption of AI in K-12 does not strain the humanity at the core of learning.

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About the CTF/FCE

Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 370,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 33-million educators.

Media Contact

Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]  
Mobile: 613-688-4319

In Opposition to the Use of the Notwithstanding Clause in Labour Negotiations

Banff, June 2, 2026 – Teacher organization presidents from across Canada, representing more than 420,000 educators, met in Banff, Alberta, on June 1, 2026, to discuss the potential use of the Notwithstanding Clause (Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) by provincial/territorial governments for issues it was never intended for, as it has been in Alberta.

The presidents affirmed their shared commitment to the democratic rights of teachers and all workers and stand united in their condemnation of the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as a tool to override constitutionally protected rights to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and strike action.

A Growing Pattern of Overreach

The Notwithstanding Clause was designed as a safeguard to be invoked only in exceptional and demonstrably justified circumstances. It was never intended to be a routine tool for governments to bypass the courts and silence workers amid legitimate labour disputes.

In the past five years, the Notwithstanding Clause has been used more frequently to deny human and democratic rights than at any other time in our lifetimes. Recently, Premiers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec have invoked the Notwithstanding Clause in the following legislation:

Bill 2, “Back to School Act” in Alberta, 2025
Bill 9, “Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act” in Alberta, 2025
Bill 137, “Parents’ Bill of Rights” in Saskatchewan, 2023
Bill 28, “Keeping Students in Class Act” in Ontario, 2022
Bill 307, “Protecting Elections and Defending Democracy Act” in Ontario, 2021
Bill 96, “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec” in Quebec, 2022

When governments invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to end labour disputes, they are not simply legislating. They are telling workers that their rights are conditional and that the Charter protections all Canadians depend upon can be switched off when it is politically convenient to do so. This is a threat not only to teachers, but to every worker and every citizen in this country.

Our Collective Position

The undersigned presidents, representing teachers and education workers in every province and territory across Canada, collectively and unequivocally declare:

The use of the Notwithstanding Clause during labour negotiations is an abuse of legislative power. Governments must engage in good-faith collective bargaining, not weaponize the Constitution to silence workers.
Teachers’ rights to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike are constitutionally protected and must remain so. No government should be able to pre-emptively nullify these rights and block the courts from providing recourse.
The Notwithstanding Clause must only ever be used as a last resort, after judicial review has been permitted. Its pre-emptive use to shield legislation from Charter challenges is a subversion of the democratic rule of law.
The implications of this trend extend far beyond education, threatening every worker and citizen in this country. What is happening to teachers today can happen to any worker, in any sector, tomorrow. This is a national issue requiring a national response.

Together we call on all levels of government to take the following immediate actions:

Commit to good-faith collective bargaining with teachers and education workers, and resolve disputes through negotiation and mediation.
Pledge not to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause in the context of labour relations with teachers and education workers.
Support federal action to review and restrict provincial/territorial use of Section 33 when it is applied to deny citizens’ fundamental democratic and human rights.
Ensure judicial oversight is preserved by allowing courts the opportunity to examine the constitutionality of any legislation before the Notwithstanding Clause is considered.

Additionally, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) Board of Directors has launched a petition that calls upon the federal government to “annul or repeal any future provincial legislation that restricts workers’ rights to strike and collectively bargain through the use of the Notwithstanding Clause, and to affirm the federal government’s responsibility to uphold Charter rights across Canada.”

The presidents of all provincial/territorial teachers’ organizations strongly encourage all Canadians who share our values to add their names to this petition before it closes on July 24, 2026. The petition can be found at: https://www.ctf-fce.ca/take-action/notwithstanding-clause-petition/.

It is not too late to act with integrity. But governments must choose to do so now.

Take Action

Signatories
Jason Schilling – Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) 
Gabrielle Lemieux – Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) 
Éric Godin, Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick, Fédération des enseignants du Nouveau-Brunswick (AEFNB/FENB) 
Carole Gordon – British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) 
Clint Johnston – Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) 
Mona-Élise Sévigny – Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du Manitoba (ÉFM) 
David Mastin – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) 
Heidi Ryder – New Brunswick Teachers’ Association, New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (NBTA/NBTF)   
Dale Lambe – Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) 
Peter Day – Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) 
Justin Matchett – Nunavut Teachers’ Association (NTA) 
René Jansen in de Wal – Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) 
Martha Hradowy – Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) 
Andy Doran – Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation (PEITF) 
Samantha Becotte – Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) 
Ted Hupé – Yukon Association of Education Professionals (YAEP) 
Chris Cowley – Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF)
Heidi Yetman – Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT)
Rita Mueller – Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA)
Lillian Klausen – Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS)

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About the CTF/FCE

Media Contact

Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]  
Mobile: 613-688-4319

Newly elected CTF/FCE Vice-Presidents will join President Johnston

Ottawa, July 11, 2025 – Clint Johnston, former President of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), begins his two-year term as President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE). Johnston was elected President-Designate of the CTF/FCE at the Federation’s Annual General Meeting in 2024 and succeeds outgoing President Heidi Yetman.

“I am deeply honoured to begin my term as President of the CTF/FCE, following in the footsteps of Heidi Yetman,” says Johnston.

“Heidi’s tenure has been marked by her extraordinary leadership and powerful voice for the Federation. I am proud to represent the collective voices of the CTF/FCE’s provincial and territorial organizations on a national level. The value of public education and the people within Canadian communities must be universally understood across the country – and this requires a strong and unified CTF/FCE. I firmly believe we are stronger together and I will continue to strive to connect us all in this shared work.”

Johnston brings a wealth of education union leadership experience to his new role. Following three years as Local President in Chilliwack, Johnston has served as the President of the BCTF since 2022, following six years as a Vice-President of the BCTF. Johnston also served five years on the CTF/FCE Executive as a Vice-President, from 2018 through 2023. In that role, he represented the CTF/FCE on numerous occasions, including leading the CTF/FCE delegation at the Education International World Congress in July 2019 and participating as a delegate in the 2023 and 2024 Congress. Johnston has led bargaining teams both locally and provincially, providing him with a solid understanding of union and governance issues on a broad scale.

As a leader, Johnston is known for his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He strives to bring folks together and to tackle complex challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.

Executive Members for 2025-2026

Joining Johnston and Executive Director Cassandra Hallett on the Executive team are the following, who were elected as CTF/FCE Vice-Presidents, serving two-year terms:

Connie Keating, Vice-President (New Brunswick Teachers’ Association)
Lillian Klausen, Vice-President (The Manitoba Teachers’ Society)
Rita Mueller, Vice-President (Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association)
Tesa Fiddler, Vice-President (Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association)
Trent Langdon, Vice-President (Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association)

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About the CTF/FCE

Media Contact

Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]  
Mobile: 613-688-4319

Protecting Public Education Across Canada

Saskatoon, May 28, 2025 – Canada’s teacher organization presidents met in Whitecap, Saskatchewan, May 25 and 26, 2025, to discuss protecting public education across Canada. The discussion focused on two critical concerns: the ongoing challenges with teacher retention and recruitment, and the rising incidents of violence and aggression in schools.

The presidents affirmed their shared commitment to public education and called for governments to invest in teachers, student supports, and safer school environments.

The presidents’ stance is reinforced by recent findings from the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE). Results of the CTF/FCE 2024 Parachute Survey highlight the seriousness of the situation:

Nearly 80 percent of teachers report difficulty managing unpredictable and increasing workloads; and 70 percent identify poor working conditions as a significant factor.
95 percent of educators observe that staff shortages are negatively affecting students, with the most serious impacts being unmet academic needs and reduced access to specialized supports.
55 percent of educators report having experienced violence or aggression in the past year.
Of those who reported incidents, only 25 percent indicate that appropriate action was taken by safety committees or officers, while school administrators report being overwhelmed.

These findings reflect mounting pressure on teachers and the broader public education system. Teachers and students across Canada deserve safe, supportive environments for working and learning. Yet many continue to face difficult conditions and challenges that affect both student well-being and learning outcomes. Without immediate action, the profession risks losing more qualified, experienced teachers, making it challenging to recruit and retain new educators. Current challenges are pushing educators out of the profession and making it less appealing to those considering it.

It’s not too late to turn this around but growing issues like school violence need urgent attention.

Together, the presidents are calling on all provincial and territorial governments as well as the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to take immediate action for the good of students across this country.

The presidents and the organizations they represent stand ready to collaborate with government to improve public education. Key priorities include:

Reducing class sizes to allow for meaningful instruction and student support.
Increasing numbers of education specialists and support staff in schools.
Addressing class complexity and ensuring safer learning environments.
Transparent reporting of violent incidents, including actions taken.

Together, these priorities reflect what’s urgently needed to create conditions where students and teachers can succeed. Access to high-quality public education for all students is a cornerstone of Canadian culture and values and contributes to a strong economy and democracy.

Signed by:
Jason Schilling – The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA)
Gabrielle Lemieux – Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO)
Stéphanie Babineau – Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick, New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (AEFNB/NBTF)
Clint Johnston – British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF)
Heidi Yetman – Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
Mona-Élise Sévigny – Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du Manitoba (ÉFM)
Karen Brown – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
Lillian Klausen – The Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS)
Peter Lagacy – New Brunswick Teachers’ Association, New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (NBTA/NBTF)
Trent Langdon – Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA)
Peter Day – Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union (NSTU)
Justin Matchett – Nunavut Teachers’ Association (NTA)
Rita Mueller – Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA)
René Jansen in de Wal – Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA)
Karen Littlewood – Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO)
Mike Foulds – Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF)
Andy Doran – Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation (PEITF)
Samantha Becotte – Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF)
Ted Hupé – Yukon Association of Education Professionals (YAEP)

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About the CTF/FCE

Media Contact

Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]  
Mobile: 613-688-4319

International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) 2025 – CTF/FCE and CSQ denounce Canada’s absence

Montreal and Ottawa, March 21, 2025 – On the eve of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) 2025, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) and the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) denounce the decision of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) not to send a Canadian delegation.

CTF/FCE president Heidi Yetman and CSQ president Éric Gingras point out that Canada is currently experiencing an unprecedented teacher retention and recruitment crisis and that no province or territory has been spared.

“Canadians recognize the importance of public education as the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society. Education is the key to fighting disinformation and protecting democracy. We think the absence of a Canadian delegation at the ISTP will not go unnoticed and will certainly provoke negative reactions,” said Heidi Yetman.

The main causes of this crisis include a lack of ministerial support, unsustainable working conditions, and an increase in violence and aggression in the workplace.

“One might think that responsibility for education rests solely with the provinces and territories, but there’s an undeniable link between a healthy democracy and the quality of public education. That’s why we’re deeply concerned about the erosion of both if Canada is conspicuously absent from key international gatherings such as the Summit,” said CSQ president Éric Gingras.

A necessary forum

The ISTP, co-organized by Education International (EI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is the only forum that brings together ministers of education and spokespersons for national education unions from “top performing” countries according to PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). All organizations take advantage of the ISTP to address the priorities of the teaching profession and share promising practices.

Not surprisingly, the United States will not participate in the ISTP 2025 either.

“Since the Trump administration came to power, it has become clear that we must break free from our dependence on the United States. Choosing to participate in discussions on stage and in international forums, even as the United States takes pride in not doing so, is a clear step in this direction and allows us to distance ourselves from an increasingly aggressive partner that tends to isolate itself,” added the CTF/FCE president.

Lastly, Eric Gingras noted that Canada will host the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2025: “It’s clear to us that education needs to be part of the discussion. This will be an opportunity for the Canadian government to demonstrate its leadership and its ability to engage in constructive dialogue, work with the other G7 countries, and propose innovative solutions to serve the interests of all peoples,” concluded the CSQ president.

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About the CTF/FCE

About the CSQ

The CSQ represents more than 225,000 members, including some 125,000 education employees. The CSQ has 11 federations that unite some 240 affiliated unions and it is affiliated with the AREQ, le mouvement des personnes retraitées CSQ. The CSQ is also active in health and social services, educational childcare services, as well as municipal, recreational, cultural, community and communications services.

Media Contacts

Nika Quintao
Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
613 688-4319
nquintao@ctf-fce-ca

Maude Messier
Press Officer
Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
514 213-0770
[email protected]

Each and every day, students, teachers, and education workers throughout our country head to class without much regard for who sits in the Prime Minister’s office, but the occupant certainly makes a difference in their lives.

This is why the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) is committed to working with governments of all political stripes to strengthen public education. This non-partisan position is strongest when governments share a commitment to education, which has been our experience with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Following his decision to step down, the CTF/FCE sincerely thanks the Prime Minister for his leadership, including his steadfast commitment to ensuring that the federal government contributed to quality inclusive public education for all, at home and abroad.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when most school buildings were forced to close and education was upended, Prime Minister Trudeau showed a determination to problem solve. While respecting provincial/territorial responsibility for education, he helped many schools safely re-open and stay open.

More recently, the Prime Minister, along with various key Ministers, again demonstrated real leadership by funding, and developing policy for, a much-needed national school food program; for too long, Canada has been the only G7 country without one. This is life-changing for many young people and their families, and the CTF/FCE applauds the government’s initiative. We will continue to advocate for the full implementation of this program in all provinces and territories.

Long before the pandemic and after, the Prime Minister has been very generous with his time for the CTF/FCE, engaging in dialogue on the issues that matter most to the over 370,000 teachers and educators we represent. Unlike other federal leaders, Justin Trudeau consistently made time to meet with the CTF/FCE, and members across the country, to listen to our concerns on many issues important to Canadians.

The CTF/FCE looks forward to continuing our collaboration with the Prime Minister and we wish him and his family the very best. We hope we can count on continued dialogue and partnership with his successor, the next Prime Minister of Canada, and the federal government because education is the foundation of healthy communities and thriving democracies. In fact, it is the bedrock of Canada’s future.

Thank you, Prime Minister. You have made a very positive difference.

Heidi Yetman, CTF/FCE President
Cassandra Hallett, CTF/FCE Executive Director

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About the CTF/FCE

Founded in 1920, the CTF/FCE is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teachers’ organizations that represent over 365,000 teachers and education workers across Canada. The CTF/FCE is also an affiliate of Education International, which represents more than 32-million educators.

Media Contact

Nika Quintao, Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE)
[email protected]  
Mobile: 613-688-4319