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- Alberta’s proposed Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, introduces significant restrictions on medical assistance in dying (MAID). The legislation limits eligibility to patients whose death is "reasonably foreseeable" within 12 months and prohibits MAID for mental illness or via advanced requests. It also generally requires a direct family member to be present during administration. Under the bill, healthcare providers are prohibited from suggesting MAID to patients or providing out-of-province referrals. Furthermore, health facilities cannot publicly display MAID information, and 150-metre exclusion zones would be established around facilities that refuse the service. Supporters believe these measures protect vulnerable populations from coercion, while critics argue they infringe on individual rights and create barriers to care. While legal challenges are anticipated, provincial officials assert that the bill falls within Alberta’s authority over healthcare regulation.
- Premier Danielle Smith is seeking higher-level security clearance so she can receive intelligence briefings from Canadian Security Intelligence Service about possible foreign interference in the province. She argues this step is necessary because her government is not being directly briefed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, particularly with a potential referendum on separation looming this fall. Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi has pushed back strongly, saying he does not believe Smith should be trusted with such sensitive information and raising concerns about her past interactions with foreign governments. The criticism includes scrutiny of a recent trip where Smith accepted travel and accommodations from Saudi officials, though she maintains the arrangements were approved and appropriate. Meanwhile, Alberta officials say the clearance process is complex and would require secure infrastructure for briefings.
- Alberta’s legal regulator, the Law Society of Alberta, will no longer require lawyers to complete Indigenous cultural competency training due to new provincial legislation known as the “Peterson law.” The law, formally called the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, prohibits mandatory training related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, prompting the society to also dissolve its EDI committee. The now-optional course, known as “The Path,” had been introduced in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls to action and was completed by thousands of lawyers over recent years. Supporters of the change argue professionals should not be forced into specific ideological training, while critics say removing mandatory requirements weakens efforts to ensure lawyers can effectively serve Indigenous communities.
- The Alberta government and federal officials are negotiating agreements on carbon capture and pricing to meet a bilateral memorandum of understanding. To secure the suspension of federal Clean Energy Regulations, the Province must commit to a new carbon pricing framework and industry-led carbon capture projects by April 1st. While an agreement on provincial project approvals has been reached, details for remaining components are still being finalized. Concurrently, a report indicates that expanding pipeline capacity by 1.5 million barrels per day could add $30 billion to the national GDP and create 110,000 jobs over ten years. Premier Danielle Smith cited these findings to support the need for enhanced energy infrastructure. The government aims to establish clear regulatory guidelines soon to facilitate project proposals and potential approvals by the end of the year.
- Alberta is struggling to meet the federal $10-a-day childcare target by the March 2026 deadline. While the province reduced fees to approximately $15-a-day in January 2025, Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides characterized the $10 goal as "unsustainable" without an additional $2 to $3 billion in federal funding. In December, both governments signed a one-year, $1.17 billion extension to maintain current fees while negotiating a long-term deal. Nicolaides is seeking a new agreement that includes an income-tested system and funding flexibility for both non-profit and for-profit providers. The office of Federal Minister Patty Hajdu stated that provinces must develop systems responding to their specific community needs while remaining committed to national affordability and sustainability. Alberta is currently awaiting further policy direction from the federal government, expected by late spring.