Alberta government says fall legislative session prioritized upholding rights, freedoms

The Alberta government said the fall legislative session saw it focus on protecting Albertans’ rights and freedoms, which are the cornerstone of a free, democratic society. Additionally, Alberta Government House Leader Joseph Schow noted this theme united the 13 bills passed this fall and was on full display when the government kicked off the session by introducing the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act. “The passage of which enshrines the rights of Albertans to personal autonomy and protects medical choices, property rights, and legal firearms use in our province,” said Schow at a Thursday press conference. “The passage of the Health Statutes Amendment Act and the Education Amendment Act creates a comprehensive framework to preserve choice for minors, to support student success and well-being at schools, and to ensure kids and youth in Alberta are supported as they grow into adults to become the people they want to become.” This session, Schow said Alberta was “a leader in Canada with the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act — a one-of-its-kind piece of legislation in Canada that protects the fairness and safety of Alberta’s amateur competitive sport system by ensuring women and girls are able to compete in biological female-only divisions and support the formation of additional co-ed divisions to ensure transgender athletes can meaningfully participate in the sports of their choice.” By passing the Protection of Privacy Act, Alberta will now have the strongest privacy protections and the strictest penalties for privacy violations in Canada. While these bills were major achievements, he said this session saw the Alberta government continue to stand up against Canadian government overreach. It passed the second motion under the Alberta Sovereignty Act to oppose the oil and gas emissions cap. He vowed the Alberta government “has always been and will continue to be unapologetic in our fight to protect and promote the best interests in Alberta.” However, he said all this was done in addition to its ongoing work to continue to diversify the economy, streamline processes, and maintain its status as one of the best business-friendly environments in North America by passing the All-Season Resorts Act. Schow concluded by saying he was proud of the progress the Alberta government has made during this session. He said he and his colleagues look forward to continuing to deliver for Albertans over the winter break and into 2025. Schow followed up by saying the Alberta lieutenant governor approved all of the bills. “They received royal assent this morning at 10 o’clock,” he said. The Alberta NDP responded by saying amid affordability, housing, and healthcare crises and an overburdened, underresourced education system, Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party did not help Albertans this session. “Albertans want help with the increasing costs of living, they want access to healthcare, they want a well-funded education system for their children,” said Alberta Official Opposition Leader Christina Gray. “But Danielle Smith and the UCP ignored all of these priorities this session, because they prioritized themselves over Albertans.” The NDP said the UCP spent the fall beginning its plan to increase auto insurance rates by 15%, helping its own MLAs by giving them more money for their accommodations, making sex education less accessible, making schools less safe for transgender children, privatizing healthcare, politicizing pension investments by firing the AIMCo Board, and continuing to pick fights with the Canadian government instead of getting deals for Albertans. Now more than ever, Gray said Albertans need a premier focused on making life better for them, not herself. The Alberta government said in October the legislature will reconvene for the fall sitting in a few days with legislation to protect and advance Albertans’ rights, freedoms, and opportunities. .UPDATED: Alberta Legislature to reconvene for fall session on Monday .This fall, the Alberta government said it will introduce legislation fortifying Albertans’ rights, freedoms, and opportunities, ensuring protections are updated to reflect modern times. “Alberta’s government is heading back in the legislature, with a laser focus on the protection of Albertans’ best interests,” said Schow.

Alberta government says fall legislative session prioritized upholding rights, freedoms

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