Alberta Record

· Bill / Centralization of Power · enacted

Bill 16 — Traffic Safety Act Amendments: Ministerial Authority for Pilot Projects

Amends the Traffic Safety Act to grant the Minister new regulation-making authority for pilot projects related to traffic safety and highway use, including a provision for these regulations to override other conflicting enactments.

Moderate impactCentralization of powerLegislatureThe public, directly

What changed

  • Adds Section 18.1, enabling the Minister to make regulations for pilot projects to research, test, or evaluate matters related to the Act or highway/vehicle use (s. 16(2)).
  • Establishes that regulations made under this new authority prevail in case of conflict with other enactments for which the Minister is responsible (s. 16(2), adding s. 18.1(6)).

Why it matters

  • Expands ministerial discretion and legislative power by allowing the Minister to create regulations for pilot projects.
  • Introduces a significant override power, enabling ministerial regulations to supersede other provincial laws in specific contexts, potentially reducing legislative checks and balances.

Primary sources (1)