#GLOBALNEWS Alberta Premier Smith defends use of notwithstanding clause for teachers strike, says it was “right”

Smith said it was the province’s “right” to send the union back to work, but said her government would “have preferred for the strike to have ended with a negotiated settlement.”

Her comments come after the head of the Alberta Teachers’ Association said the union had filed an application asking a judge to immediately pause the law until a full constitutional challenge is heard.

Smith also suggested the province was concerned about numerous local strikes being declared even after the provincial strike was resolved.

In a press conference Friday, the premier also raised concerns about what she said were “procedural issues” as members of the United Conservative Party have become targets of citizen-led recall petitions.