These bulletins summarize and explain the important and relevant details of potential and upcoming legislation in Alberta, including notable Orders in Council.
Members’ Issues and Related Bills or Activities
Bill 15 – Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2026
Honourable Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
Bill 15 represents a major step toward establishing a provincial police force by amending the Police Act to allow the Minister to transfer Alberta employees, including the roughly 600 sheriffs currently performing policelike duties, into the new Alberta Sheriffs Police Services (ASPS).
The Government of Alberta (GOA) argues this authority will support a smooth transition as the existing sheriff structure is wound down and ASPS is built out. While the GOA maintains that training and qualification requirements will be addressed, the legislation itself focuses primarily on transferring staff into comparable roles, leaving open questions about how training will be funded and whether communities may experience policing capacity gaps during and after the transition.
Parties acknowledged the significant challenges facing rural policing, including recruitment shortages, difficult to access areas, slower response times, and the growing financial burden on municipalities to sustain existing police services.
Government MLAs argued that the ASPS – once fully implemented – would be better positioned than current RCMP detachments to address these pressures, and that there would be a noticeable increase in “boots on the ground” in rural communities as a result.
Opposition MLAs countered that creating the ASPS is an unnecessary and costly workaround when comparable resources already exist within the RCMP; they suggested strengthening existing services would be more efficient and more expeditious in delivering officers to rural areas.
Bill 15 received Royal Assent on April 16 and is now law.
Bill 21 – Interprovincial Trade Mutual Recognition Act, 2026
Honourable Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration
Bill 21 would legislate the application of several trade-related mutual recognition agreements, including the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on the Sale of Goods (CMRA), Part B of Chapter 4 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and Article 5(1) of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA).
The CMRA – signed by all federal, provincial, and territorial governments in November 2025 – enables a good that meets the regulatory requirements of one province or territory to be sold in others that have ratified the CMRA. In effect, it removes many interprovincial trade barriers by ensuring that compliance in one jurisdiction is sufficient for sale in others. It also places a shared obligation on provinces and territories to reconcile their internal regulations to support cross‑border trade.
The referenced provisions of the CFTA and NWPTA serve a similar purpose: they commit signatories to reducing regulatory differences that impede the movement of goods between provinces. The CFTA was signed by all provinces and territories; the NWPT was signed by British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Together, these measures would expand economic opportunities for Alberta consumers and businesses by reducing duplicative regulatory requirements. Products that meet Alberta’s standards could be sold in other provinces without additional compliance costs, and goods produced elsewhere in Canada could enter the Alberta market under the same principle.
However, most of the operational details of Bill 21 are left to be regulated. While the Bill guarantees interprovincial trade compatibility in principle, the practical rules governing how this compatibility will function are left to Cabinet to determine. This may replace existing interprovincial barriers with a new form of uncertainty for businesses as they must wait to understand how the regulatory framework will be applied in practice.
Bill 21 passed its third reading on April 14, receiving Royal Assent on April 16. Bill 21 is now law.
Bill 23 – Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026
Honourable Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice
Bill 23 is an omnibus bill that amends multiple statutes related to elections. The Bill introduces a 12-month blackout period on citizen initiatives before and after a general election and removes the deadlines requiring the Alberta government to act on successful citizen petitions.
Under the proposed blackout period, an individual would be prohibited from submitting a notice of intent to petition for signatures during the 12 months immediately preceding a fixed general election date and the 12 months following the most recent general election. Any petitions already underway during this period – regardless of their progress – would be terminated. As a result, individuals wishing to advance a petition would need to secure the required number of signatures before the blackout period begins.
The amendments would also allow either the Minister or petitioner to appoint lawyers as scrutineers of the verification process. Scrutineers would have the authority to audit the verification of collected signatures by the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The Minister would retain this power even if they were a subject of the petition.
This will be the third substantial amendment to the Citizen Initiative Act in just over a year. Signature thresholds were lowered and the collection period extended in April 2025. Additional procedural and definitional changes – including new notice of intent requirements – were introduced in December 2025. Bill 23 represents the third set of amendments.
Additionally, Bill 23 would increase the salary disclosure threshold for public employees to $130,000. Any public employee earning above this amount will be required to publicly report their compensation. Previously, the threshold was $104,754 for Government of Alberta employees and $125,000 for employees of public sector bodies, education bodies, and municipal authorities. This will likely create increased administrative requirements for municipalities, as well as introduce potential financial and experiential barriers into the hiring process.
Bill 23 sped through the Legislature this past week, passing through its second reading, the Committee of the Whole, and third reading between April 14 and 16. Bill 23 quickly received Royal Assent on April 16 and is now law.
Bill 24 – Alberta Whiskey Act, 2026
Honourable Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
Bill 24 creates standards for an official designation of “Alberta Whisky.”
The Bill creates made-in-Alberta standards for whisky production. The official designation may support growth in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and hospitality by creating an impetus for exploration into the Alberta whisky market. Alberta’s whisky sector which has grown steadily and is gaining national recognition for quality and craftsmanship. The provincial definition would help producers distinguish their products within the broader Canadian whisky category, which operates under more flexible federal standards.
“Alberta Whisky” – under the conditions set in the Bill – would be made entirely in Alberta, having 2/3 of the total weight of cereal grain coming from Alberta farms, use water that is sole sourced from Alberta, and not blended or modified after distillation except through flavouring or the addition of water from Alberta.
Bill 24 passed its third reading on April 22 and now goes to the Lieutenant Governor for Royal Assent.
Bill 28 – Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Act, 2026
Honourable Dan Williams, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Bill 28 is an omnibus bill modifying large sections of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), Libraries Act (LA), and the Alberta Housing Act (AHA). The Bill has significant implications for municipal and local governance, including housing, property assessment, aggregate pits, seniors’ housing, governance and accountability, and the operation of public institutions.
Bill 28 reflects a clear shift toward increased provincial oversight in areas that have traditionally fallen within municipal authority. While some amendments clarify existing processes or introduce new administrative tools, many establish new oversight mechanisms or standardize municipal practices in ways that will influence how municipalities plan, regulate development, manage assessment and taxation matters, and deliver services.
Taken together, Bill 28 represents a substantial expansion of provincial regulatory reach and oversight, accompanied by a corresponding reduction in municipal and board‑level autonomy. RMA has completed an analysis of Bill 28 and the changes comprised within, found here: Bill 28: RMA Analysis.
Bill 28 passed its first reading on April 2. It has undergone extensive debate since.
Bill 30 – Expedited 120-Day Approvals Act, 2026
Honourable Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals
Bill 30 introduces a new legislative framework that would allow the Minister to expedite approval timelines for designated major projects in Alberta. Under this framework, qualifying projects would be subject to a hard 120‑business‑day approval window (roughly five to six months) representing a substantial reduction from the timelines typically associated with large-scale industrial or infrastructure developments.
Proposals must meet several broad criteria. These include a minimum capital investment of $250 million, alignment with GOA strategic priorities, a determination that project benefits outweigh residual impacts, and an assessment of whether the project advances national and provincial security by recognizing provincial autonomy. These criteria are expansive, undefined in key areas, and potentially open to political interpretation rather than grounded in objective or evidence-based thresholds. As a result, the designation process may be highly discretionary, with significant latitude for ministerial judgment.
Proponents seeking designation must provide a detailed application that includes an anticipated project completion timeline, a list of all known approvals required, and proof – that is acceptable to the Minister – of the status of any environmental impact assessments under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. They must also provide proof – again, that is acceptable to the Minister – of the status of Indigenous consultation obligations. The Bill does not define what constitutes “acceptable” proof, leaving considerable uncertainty about evidentiary standards, procedural expectations, and the degree of ministerial discretion in determining whether a project is sufficiently advanced to enter the expedited stream. Proponents will likely need to seek clarity on these measures before application.
Bill 30 emerges in the context of ongoing intergovernmental discussions between Alberta and the federal government, particularly following the recent Co-operation Agreement on Environment and Impact Assessment. The federal government committed to rely more heavily on Alberta’s environmental assessment and regulatory processes when evaluating potential adverse environmental impacts under this agreement. Bill 30 appears to position Alberta to capitalize on this shift by creating a faster, provincially-controlled pathway for major project approvals.
Although public discussion has largely focused on the implications for the oil & gas sector, the Bill’s structure is broad enough to apply to a wide range of industries. Mining, utilities, forestry, nuclear development, large-scale manufacturing, and data centres could all qualify for expedited approval if they meet the investment threshold and align with provincial priorities. As such, Bill 30 has the potential to reshape Alberta’s major project landscape well beyond the energy sector.
Overall, Bill 30 introduces a highly discretionary, accelerated approval regime that could significantly alter how major projects are evaluated and approved in Alberta. While intended to streamline processes and attract investment, the Bill raises important questions about transparency, regulatory consistency, environmental oversight, and the adequacy of consultation processes – particularly given the undefined nature of key criteria and the substantial authority vested in the Minister.
Bill 30 Passed its first reading on April 14.
Bill 31 – Red Tape Reduction Statues Amendment Act, 2026
Honourable Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
Bill 31 is an omnibus bill that amends a wide range of provincial statutes, addressing topics that span from land‑use planning, management of liquor and gaming information, electronic land‑title registration, and the elimination of daylight savings time. Many of the amendments are technical or administrative, but collectively they represent a substantial legislative update intended to align older statutes with recent policy directions and modernize government processes.
The Bill significantly amends the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), expanding potential filing obligations for municipalities. Under the revised framework, municipalities may now be required to file compliance declarations not only when a regional plan is amended, but also when Cabinet creates, amends, or incorporates a subregional or issue‑specific plan under the new provisions.
This marks a meaningful shift from the previous structure. Previously, filing obligations were triggered solely by changes to regional plans. Because these new standalone plans can be created for specific geographic areas, particular issues, or Crown land management topics, municipalities could face filing requirements more frequently and in a wider range of circumstances. Importantly, the obligation to file is not automatic; it depends on whether the subregional or issue‑specific plan itself directs municipalities to submit a compliance declaration. Municipalities will therefore need to closely review each plan to understand its specific requirements and ensure timely compliance.
Bill 31 also formally ends daylight savings time in Alberta. The province would remain on what was previously standard time year‑round, now designated as “official time” in Alberta. This change eliminates the biannual time shift and aligns Alberta with other jurisdictions that have moved to permanent standard time.
Beyond these headline items, Bill 31 introduces numerous targeted amendments across several other Acts. Amendments clarify ministerial authority, update administrative processes, and align statutory language with other recent legislative reforms. The Bill also modernizes terminology, corrects outdated cross‑references, and refines the powers of ministers and public bodies to ensure consistency across the legislative framework. This includes technical amendments designed to improve regulatory functioning, such as clearer authority for ministers to delegate responsibilities, expanded regulation‑making powers in select Acts, and adjustments to statutory timelines and procedural requirements.
Several amendments address gaps or ambiguities identified through recent implementation experience, ideally ensuring that existing statutes operate coherently. While many of these changes are administrative in nature, they may collectively strengthen the government’s ability to coordinate across departments, streamline statutory processes, and maintain alignment between older legislation and Alberta’s increasingly rapidly changing policy landscape.
Bill 31 passed its first reading on April 23.
Orders in Council
Order in Council 116/2026
Honourable Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety annd Emergency Services
OIC 116/2026 amends the Independent Agency Police Service Regulation to allow members of the Independent Agency Police Services (IAPS) Oversight Board to also serve as members of the IAPS Board of Directors.
Previously, s. 3(3)(a) of the Regulation explicitly prohibited this overlap, keeping the two bodies institutionally separate. Under the existing structure, the Oversight Board is composed of the Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services and eight additional appointees, excluding MLAs and members of IAPS.
By permitting Oversight Board members to sit concurrently on the Board of Directors, the Order introduces a new degree of integration between the two governance bodies. This change centralizes decision‑making authority and creates a more interdependent relationship between operational oversight and organizational governance, altering the separation that previously existed between the two roles.
Ian Profiri
Policy & Research Analyst
825.319.2352
ian@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com