I’ve been reading a lot lately about the new regulations the government wants to put on the Alberta Teachers' Association, and how it’s unfair given how other professions are allowed to regulate themselves. The claim being made is that teachers are being singled out and bullied by the United Conservative Party.
I am part of a regulated profession. My regulatory body is the Alberta College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA). Compare mission statements from both organizations.
“ACSLPA protects and serves the public by regulating and ensuring competent, safe, ethical practice of audiologists and speech-language pathologists in Alberta.”
ATA: “The Alberta Teachers' Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its members.”
The big difference I see is that ACSLPA exists only for the protection of the public, and the ATA exists also for the protection of its members.
In fact, rules for health-related regulatory bodies have recently been tightened. So, for example, regulatory bodies are no longer allowed to put on conferences for their members. There is a completely separate national association — Speech-Language and Audiology Canada — that functions as an advocate for the profession and its members.
Maybe if the ATA doesn’t like being singled out, they should just follow the same rules as everyone else.
Rebecca Leiva, St. Albert
