Thread by @AdamMacVicar

The Alberta Teachers' Association is holding a virtual press conference right now in response to Minister LaGrange's statement from this morning. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

ATA President Jason Schilling says LaGrange removing disciplinary duties from the ATA would destabilize the the education system in Alberta, and is a distraction from the Minister's handling of the education portfolio. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says the Government of Alberta is spinning the Michael Gregory sexual misconduct case, and adds the province also didn't report the case to police when they received the report of the ATA hearing. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

The ATA tweeted a letter from the Education Minister at the time regarding the Michael Gregory case. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

https://twitter.com/albertateachers/status/1469026967957622786

Schilling is asked about how this move will crumble the education system. He says its about being unified under one umbrella of the ATA. He says they don't want to be at odds with a college as a union. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says the ATA works hard to keep union and regulatory matters separate to advance interests of the members but also best interests of the public. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Dennis Theobald with the ATA speaking now. He says the disciplinary process is triggered by a complaint. He says all complaints are investigated. Theobald says investigators were aware police had knowledge about Michael Gregory. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Theobald says he feels the disciplinary process was adhered to in the Gregory case. He says standards have changed over the years and that's why they were very involved in work with Bill 85. He says there was no indication the news today was coming. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says the ATA is always willing to sit down with the government. He says this government and this minister keeps dismissing the ATA. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says he is not surprised by the move from the province, but extremely disappointed. He says the government is politicizing something that should have never been politicized. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says the ATA is going to its membership to explain the implications of this move. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

Schilling says this government is unpopular partly due to its action on education. He says this is government trying to distract Albertans from mishandling the education portfolio. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

The ATA says it received just over 200 complaints against its members for conduct concerns. More than 120 have been investigated, 39 warranted hearings and 17 had complaints withdrawn. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary

These numbers are from 2020. They're currently working on the 2021 numbers. #YYC #ABleg @GlobalCalgary