From the Leg
Bills that showcase what government overreach really looks like; take 101?
Bill 25: An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, 2026; or “Don’t say ‘g*y’ and other feelings we want to legislate.”
Restricts schools to having only Alberta and Canada flags unless approved by the Minister. Within minutes, Francophone Alberta flags were approved and, fine, school-specific flags too because the UCP put their usual amount of care and consideration into the legislation.
The national anthem must be played at least once a week in Alberta schools
It was played every morning while I was in school, and we stood. Since my kids have been in school, it was played every morning and if you (as a parent) were caught in the hallway on your way out, the etiquette is that you stand in place.
All courses or programs of study and instructional materials must encourage a wide range of perspectives and ideas; but not from teachers.
Teachers must be neutral while teaching about the history of communism and dictatorships ensuring “both sides of the debate are accurately represented”. Kidding. The UCP just wants everyone to know that Stalin had good ideas that were implemented poorly. Got you again.
Uncertain if teaching about historical circumstances in which racial or ethnic superiority or persecution, (and) social change through violent action or disobedience of laws (took place) is considered “promotion” of the same since these people think that a visible Pride flag, or sexual education, or telling kids that not everyone has the exact same experiences and feelings they do, is an act of “promotion”. It’s hard to parse ideologically-based legislation. It either means what it says in all circumstances or it’s just trying to legislate feelings which is incompatible with law.
On the surface it sounds like common sense could prevail except they’re trying not to say what they really don’t want because it’s probably discriminatory AF and they know they shouldn’t. Problematically, what you end up with is legislation that can be applied to far more than whatever the religious zealots are offended by today. That’s why legislating feelings is so hard. And it freaking should be.
Lighter reading: CBC, City News, CTV, Canadian Press
Bill 26: Immigration Oversight Act, or; “This is what a ‘Free Alberta’ looks like mofo”
Government-approved employees: Employers must register, and be approved, for a temporary certificate (maximum three years per issuance) that permits them to hire foreign nationals. Certificate may be subject to additional terms and conditions as determined by a bureaucratically appointed “director”. Red tape— lose some, get a lot more.
Non-transferable; certificates are only valid for “the person” to whom the certificate was issued. It says “person” [page 12; s10(1)] rather than “business” or “corporation”, which is interesting. “Employer” doesn’t usually mean a “person” but hey, I’m not writing legislation.
Licences: An individual must not act as a recruiter if they do not hold a licence but also, recruitment services (like HR) that do not take fees for their services are exempt from licencing requirements. Self-enforced? Licences must note the individual’s name and any company under which they operate. Also temporary, must be renewed at least every three years.
this part isn’t so bad except for the fact that it probably wouldn’t help temporary foreign workers/immigrants who don’t know these people are supposed to be licenced. It’s basically attempting to control an industry that doesn’t operate within the law as it is.
Lighter reading: City News, CBC, Global, Cochrane News Now
Bill 27: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, or; “Did the Minister say you could do that?”
The following acts are amended to allow the Minister to issue direction and also many other ways:
Alberta Enterprise Corporation Act (page 1)
Alberta Research and Innovation Act (page 4)
Automobile Insurance Act (page 8)
hurray! Insurers will still be able to offer comprehensive coverage at an additional cost
tell me this wasn’t done just to let them increase rates to obscene levels
repeals, substitutions, and amendments continue for the next 92 pages
Insurance Act (page 100)
another new certification requirement
Senior’s Benefit Act (page 113)
the maximum benefit increases slightly but there’s a lot of primary and secondary item funding repeals and amendments, so if less items are funded, does it really matter that the maximum is going up?
Lighter reading: Medicine Hat News, Insura-Sales
Bill 28: Municipal Affairs and Housing Act, or; “More control, less responsibility”
Alberta Housing Act (page 1)
Would it be weird if management bodies were requesting money from municipalities for maintenance and their capital reserve funds? Will the province increase funding to municipalities to cover this? (page 4).
Repealing the rental rates re: disposal income schedule. What could possibly go wrong?
Libraries Act (page 8)
Literal thought police
Government wants to know what you’re reading.
Government reserves the right to issue new guidelines upon receipt of inspection summary.
Government shall decide what is and is not appropriate library material. From the Customs Act (1847); government shall refuse "books and drawings of an immoral or indecent character". It suits them.
Municipal Affairs Statutes (page 11)
grammar?
Municipal Government Act (page 12)
restricting council decisions on business improvement areas
introduces a “council accountability framework” (code of conduct) pg 15
“(9) adds requirement to report on use of natural person power and exceptions to the requirement to report.”… so… just write the reports?
offers opportunities to restrict sharing information with councilors pg 26
introduces municipal employee sunshine list
can get exemptions if publishing personal information like name and annual compensation may pose a threat to safety (or identity theft??)
Seriously— just use employee ID numbers and don’t put anyone’s safety at risk at all, okay?
the amendments continue for 38 pages
Lighter reading on libraries: Canadian Press, Alberta Politics, Journal (James Turk), Canadian Urban Libraries Council
Ugh.
I think that should be more than enough for one post.
They are sitting for four more weeks yet this session; next week and the one after, followed by a constituency week, and then they’re back for the first two weeks of May.
Here’s hoping next week is not nearly as overreaching. I have hope, but zero faith.
Final thoughts
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I crassly mistook “They are sitting for four more weeks yet this session” as “they are shitting for four more weeks” and, honestly, it’s a fair misreading.
According to someone I know who works at a very, very large library, the organization has already communicated to its employees that they will remove nothing from their shelves. Banning books is not in their mandate, they said.
Congrats, UCP, you can add librarians to the groups of people completely pissed off by your heavy handed moral panic.