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Part of New and proposed legislation

Ensuring fairness, safety and inclusivity in sport

Bill 29 would ensure athletes are able to participate in the sports they love fairly, safely, and meaningfully.

Status: Bill 29 was introduced on October 31, 2024.

Ministry responsible: Tourism and Sport

Overview

Bill 29, the proposed Fairness and Safety in Sport Act would establish a balanced approach to protect the integrity of female athletic competitions by ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to compete in biological female-only divisions, while also ensuring transgender athletes are able to meaningfully participate in the sports of their choice.

If passed, Bill 29, Fairness and Safety in Sport Act will require organizations subject to the Act to create athlete eligibility policies. 

Fairness and Safety in Sport Act would emphasize fairness, safety and inclusion as core principles of sport in Alberta, and will be supported by detailed government regulations to guide relevant organizations in their development of athlete eligibility policies.

Alberta’s government consulted with provincial sport organizations, post-secondary institutions, school authorities, coaches, parents, athletes, members of the transgender community and other subject matter experts to help inform Alberta’s approach to creating a more fair and safe sport system.

Key changes

If passed, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act and associated regulations will:

  • require in-scope organizations to create athlete eligibility policies and identify processes to ensure eligibility
  • require regular reporting on complaints and concerns regarding athlete eligibility
  • ensure transgender athletes are able to meaningfully participate in the sports of their choice by creating and expanding co-ed divisions for athletic competitions, where numbers warrant

Alberta’s government will work with relevant organizations to assess needs and supports for the creation and implementation of co-ed opportunities.

Next steps

Alberta’s government will develop regulations to guide applicable organizations overseeing amateur competitive sport in developing their own athlete eligibility policies.

These changes will roll out over the coming year, with requirements anticipated to come into effect Fall 2025.

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