Legislature sat for the 100th time this session, right before the long weekend. Members took the time to discuss, amend, and drop several packages. While a productive week, many debates were adjourned until next week. The members of the Legislature also spent substantial time discussing addiction treatment and the measles outbreak.
Visitors to the Legislature this week included members of the Sarb Akal society of Calgary, Christina Hollingworth, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from Enoch Cree First Nation, and a plethora of Junior-High students from across Alberta. All visitors and guests received the Legislature’s warm welcome.
Members’ Issues and Related Bills or Activities
Bill 44 – Agricultural Operation Practices Amendment Act, 2025
Honourable RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
Bill 44 seeks to encourage the emerging biogas industry in Alberta through clarifying waste management practices. The Bill would amend the use and disposal of waste throughout the biogas creation process in the Agricultural Operation Practices Act with the expectation of increased biogas development.
Minister Sigurdson alluded that changes introduced under a memorandum of understanding in 2014, designed to address the emerging technology, have been integrated into the Bill 44. The Bill would allow those changes to remain in place, but place further administrative changes would fall under the review of the Legislature.
Debate was adjourned, without a vote, on April 15.
Bill 47 – Automobile Insurance Act, 2025
Honourable Nate Horner, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board
Bill 47 introduces no-fault collision insurance into the Albertan vehicle insurance scheme. Debate continued on the merits of the scheme, including concerns over the limited breadth of coverage that may be available to injured parties and the limited risk to insurance companies after a settlement has been declared.
Debate was adjourned, without a vote, on April 16.
Bill 49 – Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
Honourable Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
Bill 49 empowers government to take another step towards establishing a provincial police force and an independent police agency to govern the force. It also introduces changes to how emergencies are declared and managed in the province. Bill 49 amends several Acts, including the Police Act and the Emergency Management Act.
Bill 49 passed its first reading on Monday, April 8, where it was framed as providing increased policing options to municipalities. Members of the Legislature expressed concerns over the government’s ability to deliver on their promise to smoothly integrate the new police force, as well as concerns over the financial implications for municipalities that do opt to introduce the police force.
Debate was adjourned, without a vote, on Tuesday, April 15. RMA is currently conducting a detailed analysis of Bill 49 and will provide members with more information in the near future.
Bill 50 – Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Bill 50 seeks to modify three pieces of legislation relevant to municipalities in Alberta: the Local Authorities Election Act, the Municipal Government Act, and the New Home Buyer Protection Act.
The Bill makes significant changes to the intermunicipal collaboration framework process – many of which reflect RMA’s advocacy positions on this issue in recent years – while repealing all municipal codes of conduct and introducing a funding scheme for municipal parties during an election.
Election changes will only affect Calgary and Edmonton in 2025, but will expand to remaining municipalities for the following elections. Residents in Jasper will be permitted to run and vote in the Jasper municipal election without residing in Jasper barring proof of residency prior to the 2024 wildfires.
Debate was adjourned, without a vote, on Wednesday, April 16. RMA is currently conducting a detailed analysis of Bill 50 and will provide members with more information in the near future.
Other Notable Legislative Action
Bill 41 – Wildlife Amendment Act, 2025
Honourable Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks
Bill 41 would make several significant changes to hunting an trapping practices regulated by the Wildlife Act. These changes include permitting children as young as 12 to hunt without supervision, enabling persons with mobility issues to hunt while using a wheelchair, and allowing black bears and cougars to be hunted for their meat. The Bill was read for the second time, without a vote, on April 15.
Bill 53 – Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
Honourable Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
The long-awaited Bill 53 was introduced on April 15. The Bill establishes the criteria, guidelines, and processes for a family member or guardian, health-care professional, or police officer to force someone into treatment. The Bill would allow members of the public to report an individual that they believe needs treatment. A lawyer would then determine if this individual was in danger of harming themselves or others, and, if so, the individual would be apprehended by police, and then a panel would determine if a mandatory treatment plan was necessary. If the panel concludes as such, that person would be required to apply the plan which may include use of medication and stays in a secure facility. The Bill passed the first reading on April 15.
Bill 210 – Employment Standards (Protecting Workers’ Tips) Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable Christina Gray, Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods
Bill 210 revises the Employment Standards Code to protect tips and gratuities from being allocated unfairly from employees who earn them. The Bill would also mandate that any pooled tips are distributed through agreement, and that the amount returns to the employees, not the owner of the establishment. The Bill passed its first reading on December 4, 2024; debate was adjourned due to time constraints on April 14.
Standing and Select Special Committee Meetings
April 29:
Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Ian Profiri
Policy & Research Analyst
825.319.2352
ian@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com