Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Public Health Authority Transfer · in-force

OIC 226/2025: Centralizing Public Health Authority and Amending Health Regulations

OIC 226/2025 amends several public health regulations, transferring regulatory and administrative authorities from regional health authorities to the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. It also expands the scope of practic

High impactHealth system governanceCentralization of powerHealth-care bodiesThe public, directly

What changed

  • Proclaims specific sections of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2) into force, effective February 2, 2026.
  • Proclaims specific subsections of section 47 of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 into force, effective July 1, 2025.
  • Amends the Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation to authorize regulated health care aides to perform two specific restricted activities under the supervision of an authorized practitioner.
  • Amends the Emergency Powers Regulation (AR 187/2009), Communicable Diseases Regulation (AR 238/85), and Immunization Regulation (AR 182/2018) to replace references to "regional health authority" with "provincial health agency or provincial health corporation" or "responsible provincial health agency."
  • Amends the Communicable Diseases Regulation to require provincial health agencies or corporations to provide health services for communicable diseases as directed by the Minister.
  • Amends the Food, Public Swimming Pools, and Waiver Regulations to transfer authority from regional health authorities to the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services for permit issuance, renewals, conditions, fees, and waiver decisions, with appeals directed to the Public Health Appeal Board.

Why it matters

  • Activates new legislative provisions from the Health Statutes Amendment Acts of 2020 (No. 2) and 2025, altering existing health frameworks, with staggered effective dates allowing for implementation.
  • Expands the scope of practice for regulated health care aides, integrating them into specific medical procedures under supervision, potentially impacting healthcare delivery and workforce deployment.
  • Broadens the application of emergency powers under the Public Health Act to include provincial health agencies and corporations, potentially centralizing control and reducing autonomy during public health emergencies.
  • Centralizes authority for communicable disease services and immunization from regional bodies to provincial entities, expanding the Minister's direct authority and shifting the public health governance model.
  • Centralizes decision-making for food safety, public swimming pools, and waivers under the Minister, potentially standardizing processes and shifting administrative and appeal procedures from regional to provincial oversight.

Other governance concerns

  • Changes to health-related legislation.
  • Potential impact on the administration and delivery of health services.
  • Impacts on health governance structures and operations will depend on the content of the proclaimed sections.
  • Scope of practice for regulated health care aides.
  • Requirements for supervision of restricted activities.
  • Definition and qualifications of 'authorized practitioner' for supervision.
  • Professional standards and accountability for newly authorized activities.
  • Scope of government authority over health entities during emergencies.
  • Autonomy of provincial health agencies and corporations.
  • Potential for centralized decision-making in public health responses.
  • Centralization of public health decision-making.
  • Increased ministerial control over health service delivery.
  • Reduced local or regional discretion in public health matters.
  • Potential for politicization of public health services.
  • Centralization of regulatory and administrative authority from regional health bodies to the Minister.
  • Reduction of regional health authorities' discretion in public health matters.
  • Shift in accountability for permit issuance, exemptions, suspensions, and cancellations to the provincial level.
  • Changes to the process for appealing public health decisions.

Primary sources (6)

Secondary sources (2)