Alberta introduces new legislation covering hiring, consumer rights and schools

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Albertans deserve fair rules, more consumer choice, and reliable services, and our government is delivering that. Last week, our government removed diversity, equity and inclusion mandates for public-sector hiring, introduced stronger consumer protections for Albertans, expanded school capacity, and prepared hospitals for increased demand this winter.

Alberta’s government is taking steps to ensure hiring and promotion decisions are based on merit – not diversity, equity and inclusion policies. That’s because Albertans deserve confidence that job opportunities are earned through skills and achievement alone. The proposed legislation would require public institutions, including municipalities and post-secondary institutions, to prioritise merit alone in hiring and promotion, and focus on accountability and serving Albertans, rather than meeting quotas. The legislation would also strengthen protections against intimate deepfakes, including AI-generated images, videos and audio shared without consent. This kind of abuse can seriously damage a person’s privacy, reputation and well-being. Those responsible could face fines of up to $10,000, up to two years in jail, or both. 

We have introduced common-sense consumer protection legislation to give Albertans more choice, more transparency and more confidence when making purchases. That includes right-to-repair measures that would give farmers, car owners and consumers better access to the tools and information needed to repair what they own. That means more options and fewer costly delays, especially for farmers who depend on their equipment during seeding and harvest. This legislation would also introduce lemon laws for defective vehicles, crack down on credit fraud, make ticket prices more transparent and create a dedicated board to help resolve property disputes.

Our government is also expanding school capacity for Alberta families while establishing clearer expectations for schools. Alberta’s government is investing $25.8 million in six independent school projects in Calgary, Edmonton and central Alberta, creating more than 3,500 new student spaces. These projects will support faith-based education and create additional classroom spaces for students with disabilities and complex learning needs. At the same time, new school flag regulations will require schools to fly the Canadian and Alberta flags outside their buildings beginning January 4, 2027. These flags are symbols that unite us and reflect the values we share, while keeping the focus in schools on where it belongs: student learning and success.

Flu season is upon us, and our government is helping hospitals prepare for increased demand so Albertans can receive care sooner. Alberta now has more than 9,000 acute care beds to help meet demand and reduce wait times. Doctors will also begin assessing patients directly in busy emergency department waiting rooms so they can start tests and treatment sooner. Alberta now has a record 14,661 registered physicians, an increase of 1,244 over the past year. We are also helping patients who no longer need hospital care return home or transition into continuing care, freeing up more hospital beds for those who need urgent care.

From strengthening public institutions and protecting consumers to expanding school capacity and improving health care, Alberta’s government is taking action on the issues that matter most to Albertans. Together, we are building a stronger province and creating opportunities for future generations to succeed and prosper.

As always, please free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)