Four students launch lawsuit against the Alberta government over education strike

Four Edmonton Public School students with disabilities are suing the Alberta government and the Minister of Education for discrimination. 

The lawsuit filed Friday alleges a ministerial order keeping special needs students at home during the educational assistants strike interferes with their right to an education.

“Everyone has a right to an education, not just some, and not just the ones that are easier to handle,” said Martin Doyle, the father of Ryan Doyle who is one of the plaintiffs.

Martin Doyle, wants to see his autistic son, Ryan, back in class.

Over the past three weeks of educational assistant strikes, he’s taken a leave from work at least three days a week when his son stays home.

This lawsuit is his latest attempt to defend his son’s right to an education.

“I’ve written letters, called the Premier’s Office, called the Minister’s Office. I’ve received no reply. They don’t want to hear from us.”

Edmonton Public Schools estimates that 2,500 students have had their class schedules changed by the order because they require an educational assistant to attend school.

Their lawyer also applied for an emergency injunction Friday to suspend the ministerial order and allow kids, like Ryan, to return to class.

“Every day these kids have to stay home is more and more harm. It’s heartbreaking,” explained lawyer Orlagh O’Kelly.

CityNews reached out to the Minister of Education, who said as this matter is before the courts, it could be inappropriate to comment at this time.

Support staff at Edmonton Public Schools have been striking for three weeks. The school board and the union saying they returned to the bargaining table once again Friday.

But it comes as the Canadian Union of Public Employees has sent a cease and desist letter to EPSB claiming the school board communicated with parents and individual union workers to sway the perception of negotiations.

In response, Edmonton Public Schools told CityNews in a statement they just wanted to provide an update, and are disappointed by the union’s response, saying, “We believe that a collaborative approach is the best way to reach a resolution that supports students, values support staff, and allows schools to return to normal operations.”