Alberta’s government was laser-focused on the protection and promotion of Albertans’ rights and freedoms, a theme that united all thirteen pieces of legislation passed this session.
The session kicked off with the introduction of the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, which ensures Albertans’ rights and freedoms remain properly protected in an ever-changing world. This was closely followed by the Health Statutes Amendment Act, Education Amendment Act, and Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, a suite of legislation that preserves choice for minors, supports student success and well-being in schools, and protects fairness and safety for Albertan athletes in sport.
“I’m incredibly proud of the progress made by our government this session. We have remained unapologetic in our fight to protect the best interests of Albertans – whether safeguarding rights and freedoms or standing up against an over-reaching federal government, the work done this session will positively benefit Albertans now and into the future.”
Alberta’s government brought the province’s protection of privacy and access to information legislation into the 21st century by restructuring the previous Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, splitting it into two distinct pieces of legislation. The Protection of Privacy Act ensures Albertans have the strongest privacy protections with the strictest penalties for privacy violations in Canada. The Access to Information Act brings Alberta’s access to information legislation into alignment with today’s digital landscape, modernizing language and streamlining processes to provide Albertans with faster, concrete response times for access to information requests.
This session also saw the passing of the second Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act motion, which enables the government to take strong action to safeguard Alberta’s economy from the job-killing, unconstitutional federal emissions cap, if or when it becomes law.
Other highlights
- The Early Learning and Child Care Amendment Act increases accountability and transparency, addresses workforce challenges and enhances health, safety and quality in child care.
- The Meat Inspection Amendment Act protects consumers by increasing penalties for illegal slaughter and sale of uninspected meat.
- The Service Alberta Statutes Amendment Act supports Alberta’s economic sector, while ensuring Albertans have the protections they need and promoting fairness in both the workplace and at home.
- The Justice Statutes Amendment Act ensures effective representation, transparent crime reporting, modern processes for court evidence, and housekeeping to ensure the definition of essential infrastructure is contained in one place, which is the act.
- The Financial Statutes Amendment Act ensures Alberta’s financial system continues to provide benefit programs that help Albertans when they need it, is sustainable over the long term and keeps Alberta’s economic future bright.
- The All-Season Resorts Act incentivizes responsible, sustainable tourism development so that generations of Albertans and visitors alike can enjoy Alberta’s natural beauty.