The Alberta Legislature voted 46-31 to approve the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act (ABORAA). The vote was split along party lines, with Alberta United Conservative Party MLAs voting for the ABORAA and NDP ones against it. Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery moved third reading of the ABORAA. “These amendments represent the first significant update to the Alberta Bill of Rights in 50 years, Mr. Speaker,” said Amery. “The amendments will broaden and strengthen Albertans’ rights, with protections for personal autonomy, including medical care and treatment, strengthened property rights, and more effective enforcement of all rights.” For some time, Amery said Albertans have been asking the Alberta government to improve the protection of their fundamental rights. He noted the amendments respond to what the Alberta government has heard from Albertans and the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel. Alberta UCP MLA Scott Cyr (Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul) introduced an amendment to the reasonable limits clause during Committee of the Whole to respond to concerns it heard about it. While the Alberta government wants to pass legislation, Amery said it listens and took action. The amendment introduced by Cyr adds the words proportionately and based on evidence to the reasonable limits clause. With this amendment, Amery said it will “set a higher bar for justifying a limit on rights.” That is the case under the court decisions interpreting the Alberta Bill of Rights. A few other amendments were proposed during Committee of the Whole. One of these amendments was to include the right of a person not to be restricted or prohibited from installing or using a solar panel on his or her property. He said this amendment is too prescriptive for the Alberta Bill of Rights and could prevent the government from ensuring land is available for food production.Other amendments about healthcare rights had been proposed. However, he pointed out healthcare rights are encompassed under other laws that demonstrate its commitment to them. He said the ABORAA has been thoroughly debated since it was introduced on October 28. Since debate on it was ending, he thanked all MLAs for ensuring the Alberta government remains accountable to Albertans and furthering the conversation about rights. Amery concluded by saying he was “confident we are bringing forward a far more robust version of the Alberta Bill of Rights suited to our modern times, and I hope that these amendments demonstrate we have listened and we are committed to respecting their freedoms.” With that, he encouraged all MLAs to support the ABORAA. Alberta NDP MLA Irfan Sabir (Calgary-Bhullar-McCall) said the ABORAA is inconsequential. “I don’t think that this bill has anything new to offer to Albertans,” said Sabir. “For instance, the bill says that no one can be coerced to get a medication they don’t want.” That is the law under the Canadian Constitution. Sabir acknowledged the Expropriation Act sets the framework for compensation for seized property. The Alberta government introduced the ABORAA to add proposed amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights on October 28 to what it says would modernize and strengthen human rights protections..UPDATED: Alberta government introduces bill to amend Alberta Bill of Rights .Since Alberta is a free, democratic society, the government said protection of fundamental rights is necessary and valued by Albertans. The Alberta Bill of Rights was created to enshrine principles such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to equality before the law among others into law. “Our province was built on the principles of individual freedom and responsibility,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
