President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Nate Horner issued the following statement about the ongoing negotiations with TEBA and the ATA:

“Last Friday, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) made an offer to the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA). Both parties have agreed to form a tentative agreement based on shared priorities and members will vote on the tentative agreement in the coming days.

“My thanks to both parties for their work in developing a tentative agreement that reflects elements that are good for teachers and the education system, as a whole.

“Alberta’s government is investing nearly $10 billion, the largest investment in the province’s history, to support the province’s teachers and students. On top of that, we’re putting $8.6 billion into building and renovating over 130 schools so students have safe, modern spaces to learn. Alberta’s government has also committed to hiring 3,000 additional teachers to reduce class sizes and support student learning.

“If ratified, this deal will form the basis for labour stability in the province and will be a positive path forward for a successful school year for our kids. Out of respect for the ratification process, I won’t get into the specifics of the deal, but I will say the tentative agreement is strong on classroom investment.

“At this time, both TEBA and I have no further comments.”

Minister of Justice Mickey Amery and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis issued the following statement on the federal government’s gun grab:

“Since the federal government first introduced its firearms confiscation scheme, Alberta’s government has been clear that we oppose any policy that undermines law-abiding firearms owners, including ineffective and expensive buyback programs that do not combat the criminal use of firearms.

“Albertans and Canadians have been rightfully concerned that attacking law-abiding firearms owners does not address the spike in illegal gun crime under the federal Liberal government.

“This confiscation scheme is not about public safety. The federal Minister of Public Safety said himself that he doesn’t think that the police can properly enforce the program and acknowledged that the Ontario Provincial Police will not enforce the program in that province. Further, the minister has made it very clear that they are only keeping this program to satisfy Liberal voters in Quebec.

“The Prime Minister told Canadians in a Sept. 10 radio appearance that this buyback program is a ‘voluntary return for compensation’ and is about getting crime down and keeping communities safe. Not to mention leaked audio that shows the minister himself is doubtful this policy will be effective or enforced. Now, the federal government has changed its tune.

“Alberta’s government has already taken action by stopping municipalities from implementing arbitrary patchwork firearms policies and preventing anyone in Alberta from seizing, storing or destroying firearms without a license from Alberta’s Chief Firearms Officer.

“Simply put, Alberta’s government will not be enforcing this gun grab, and we will make clear to law enforcement that this is not an enforcement priority. We expect them to focus their time and resources on real provincial policing priorities – like violent criminals, not hunters and sport shooters.

“We will also continue to advocate for Alberta to regulate the legal use of firearms so Albertans can continue to own, collect and use firearms for sport shooting and hunting.

“The Liberal government should end this program, which will waste over $700 million and counting and directly attacks firearms owners, and instead prioritize measures that will actually keep Canadians safe.”