Alberta Record

· Bill / Professional Regulation Changes · enacted

Bill 13 — Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, 2025

Establishes province-wide rules limiting the ability of professional regulatory bodies to sanction members for off-duty expressive conduct, restricts mandatory training, and prohibits engagement with certain diversity, equity, and inclusio…

High impactCentralization of powerCivil libertiesInstitutional independenceIndependent watchdogsThe public, directly

What changed

  • Regulatory bodies are prohibited from sanctioning regulated professionals for expressive conduct occurring outside their professional practice, except for specific circumstances like threats of violence, misuse of position, or professional boundary violations (s. 5).
  • Regulatory bodies are prohibited from promoting, affirming, or acting in accordance with principles that assign value, moral superiority, bias, or responsibility based on enumerated personal characteristics (e.g., race, gender identity) or that advocate for adverse or preferential treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion (s. 6).
  • Mandatory education or training required by regulatory bodies is restricted to matters of professional competence or ethical standards, and explicitly prohibits training on cultural competency, unconscious bias, or diversity, equity, and inclusion (s. 7, 8).
  • The Act establishes paramountcy over other applicable enactments, including the Fair Registration Practices Act and Labour Mobility Act, in cases of inconsistency (s. 3).
  • The standard of judicial review for compliance with this Act or the application of the Charter/Alberta Bill of Rights is set to 'correctness' (s. 10).
  • The Lieutenant Governor in Council gains power to prescribe additional regulated professions, regulatory bodies, prohibited principles, and prohibited education/training matters (s. 11).

Why it matters

  • Centralizes control over professional self-governance by imposing uniform provincial standards on disciplinary actions and mandatory training, reducing the autonomy of regulatory bodies.
  • Limits the scope of professional regulation, potentially affecting how professions address social responsibility, ethical conduct, and public trust in areas related to diversity and inclusion.
  • May impact the ability of regulatory bodies to implement training and policies aimed at addressing systemic biases or promoting equitable practices within their professions.
  • The 'correctness' standard of review for judicial oversight increases the likelihood of courts overturning regulatory decisions that do not align with the Act's provisions.
  • The Act's paramountcy over other legislation and the power to expand its scope via regulation indicate a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for numerous professions.

Rights affected

  • Freedom of expression — The freedom to speak, publish, and access ideas.

Other governance concerns

  • Freedom of expression
  • Professional autonomy
  • Regulatory independence
  • Scope of government authority
  • Equity and inclusion initiatives

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (4)