A teacher strike or lockout is the worst thing that could happen to a generation of students already educationally scarred by COVID-19 school closures.

Let’s hope neither happens. Talks go on between the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA).

The dispute could be resolved, or get very serious within days.

ATA President Jason Schilling says: “I know this causes anxiety and uncertainty, and people are unsure what’s going to happen.

“Teachers don’t want to strike. They want to be in the classroom with their students.”

But he notes that national comparisons show Alberta has the lowest per-student education spending in Canada, about $9,000.

With Ontario, the spending gap is almost $5,000 per student.

Premier Danielle Smith says provin

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