Defending Charter Rights from Political Overreach
Premier Scott Moe and his government are attempting to override the rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, in coalition with CUPE and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, unequivocally opposes this latest effort by the Moe government to devalue the teaching profession.
As a parent and dedicated teacher with over two decades in the teaching profession, to me, Scott Moe’s intentions are unmistakably clear. This administration is orchestrating a peculiar sleight of hand on the good people of Saskatchewan. By enacting the notwithstanding clause on Bill 137, they intend to make three principles of our democracy vanish before our very eyes:
- The fundamental rights of workers;
- The trust we bestow on teachers;
- And, the inalienable human rights of children and youth.
Recall your own adolescence—specifically that mystifying age of fifteen. Did you possess a crystal-clear vision of who you were and who you would become? But more pertinently, do you remember being coerced by the government to disclose the uncertainties of your self-concept to anyone, including your parents?
I don’t recall that, and I suspect that neither do you.
As a parent, I understand the importance of fostering a home environment where children are free to safely explore their dreams and aspirations. Our children live through us, but they are not our property. We give them our love, support, and guidance to nurture their own identities, rather than control or limit all that they might become.
As a teacher, I recognized my professional duty to create a sanctuary where students could feel secure enough to explore their evolving selves, despite their uncertainties. This commitment is one of the most remarkable virtues of our publicly funded education system, and it is precisely this virtue that Bill 137 threatens to obliterate. This bill represents an insidious strategy to exploit societal fears and convert them into political capital.
Furthermore, Moe’s weaponizing of the notwithstanding clause sets a terrifying precedent; namely, that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is simply a petty inconvenience that any elected leader can bypass if it so suits them, eschewing the rights of all Canadians.
On September twenty third and twenty fourth, our coalition will remind Premier Scott Moe and the courts of the fundamental values and protections that every child, teacher, and parent rightfully deserves.
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: 613-606-7809
