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- Premier Danielle Smith’s government is planning legislation that would allow the Province to ignore international agreements signed by the federal government if they affect areas under provincial jurisdiction, such as health care. The government says the law is meant to protect “Alberta’s authority” and ensure due process, noting that Ottawa is not currently required to consult provinces before signing such accords. Smith’s office cited the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement as an example, claiming it could impact provincial health care responsibilities. Constitutional law experts say provinces already have some discretion over implementing international agreements affecting their jurisdiction, so it’s unclear what the new legislation would change. The government has not specified when the legislation will be introduced, but the legislature is set to resume next month.
- Alberta’s Education Minister has been directed to create new pathways that would allow people with university degrees, diplomas, or trade certifications to qualify as teachers without completing a full Bachelor of Education. The aim is to expand the pool of candidates, particularly in rural areas facing teacher shortages. Details of the process are still being explored, but the province says additional training would be required and tailored to an individual’s background. The Alberta Teachers’ Association has cautioned against shortening certification, emphasizing that teaching requires specialized skills beyond subject knowledge, though it welcomed commitments to improved student supports. The directive comes amid a labour dispute between the Province and teachers. The mandate letter also instructed the minister to fully implement Bill 27, which requires parental consent for name and pronoun changes in schools, potentially using the notwithstanding clause if necessary.
- Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams also received a new mandate letter, directing him to focus on reducing conflicts between provincial and local policies, limiting property tax increases, and reintroducing a universal code of conduct for municipal officials. The mandate letter emphasizes that municipalities should concentrate on core services, while the province retains constitutional authority and financial influence over local governments. Williams said the province will step in when municipalities move into areas seen as outside their jurisdiction. The government is also exploring ways to prevent what it considers excessive property tax hikes, though that term has not been defined, and to protect Albertans from specialized taxes on secondary properties. The new code of conduct is intended to restore decorum while safeguarding elected officials’ ability to perform their duties. Williams said municipalities play an important role but stressed that the province will continue to have a strong voice in municipal decision-making.
- Premier Danielle Smith also gave a new mandate letter to Justice Minister Mickey Amery. He has been directed to introduce legislation that would give the province greater oversight of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). The new rules are expected to include “appropriate safeguards” and explicitly prohibit mental illness as the sole eligibility factor, although federal law already does not allow this. Since 2016, over 5,000 Albertans have chosen MAiD, with 1,117 in the past year alone. Critics argue that Alberta is moving ahead of Ottawa, which has been studying mental health eligibility for years, and some question whether the province should prioritize MAID legislation over other health-care issues like wait times and emergency room overcrowding. The legislation will also aim to protect the free speech rights of provincially regulated professionals, a move partly motivated by cases such as psychologist Jordan Peterson facing professional sanctions over online comments.
- Alberta continues to lead Canada in attracting people from other provinces, though the pace has slowed compared to last year. Statistics Canada data show a net gain of 12,800 interprovincial migrants in the first half of 2025, almost half the number recorded in the same period of 2024. Since 2021, the province has gained more than 88,000 residents from elsewhere in Canada. Housing affordability remains a key factor, with buyers leaving costly markets in Toronto and Vancouver for more attainable options in Alberta. However, the province faces challenges in providing enough employment for newcomers, with the unemployment rate at 8.4% in August, the second highest in the country. Ontario experienced a net loss of 27,700 residents in early 2025, while British Columbia saw a modest gain of about 700 after posting a record loss in 2024.