Alberta Record

· Bill / Rights expansion · tabled

Bill 24 — New Enumerated Rights and Preamble Changes

Amends the Alberta Bill of Rights to include new enumerated rights such as property rights, medical and vaccine consent, and firearms rights, while also updating the preamble.

Moderate impactCivil libertiesThe public, directly

What changed

  • The preamble is amended to remove references to the Canadian Bill of Rights and add emphasis on 'the position of the family' and the importance of rights 'during times of emergency'.
  • The right to the enjoyment of property and protection against its taking without just compensation is explicitly added.
  • Freedom of speech is expanded to include 'and expression'.
  • New rights are added, including the right to medical care/treatment without coerced consent (unless causing substantial harm to self or others).
  • A specific right not to be coerced into receiving a vaccine without consent is added.
  • A new right to acquire, keep, and use firearms in accordance with the law is added.

Why it matters

  • The re-framed preamble signals a shift in the foundational philosophy of rights in Alberta, emphasizing family and emergency contexts.
  • Explicitly enumerating property rights provides a new basis for challenging government actions related to land use or expropriation.
  • The new medical and vaccine consent rights could impact public health measures and individual autonomy in healthcare decisions.
  • The inclusion of a right to acquire, keep, and use firearms establishes a new protected area for gun ownership under provincial law.
  • Expanding freedom of speech to include 'expression' aligns with broader understandings of free speech but is now explicitly codified in the provincial Bill of Rights.

Rights affected

  • Freedom of expression — The freedom to speak, publish, and access ideas.
  • Bodily autonomy — Decisions about one's own body and medical care.

Other governance concerns

  • Individual autonomy
  • Property rights
  • Freedom of expression
  • Medical consent
  • Firearms ownership

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (3)