Medical choice, transgender rights, gun ownership: Alberta MLAs set to return to Legislature

Alberta’s provincial representatives reconvene Monday for the fall session, where the governing United Conservative Party plans to pass several contentious bills.

This is the first time MLAs will be together in the Legislature in Edmonton since the spring sitting wrapped in May.

There are 13 proposed bills set to be introduced in the fall, covering various topics such as workplace safety, digital privacy, health and education, justice, early learning and child care, meat inspection, and more.

Among several items on the agenda are amendments to the Alberta Bills of Rights, which would allow Albertans the ability to make their own medical decisions, including the right to refuse a vaccination or any other medical procedure. Other amendments to the Bill of Rights include the strengthening of property rights, and firearms laws.

Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, will also be passed, and is set to be law by the end of October. Details provided by Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ric McIver, last week show how the changes will impact the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act.

Particular pressure points on Bill 20 include the banning of electronic voting tabulators, the creation of municipal political parties, and permitted financial contributions.

Some critics have called the bill an undemocratic power grab with Alberta Municipalities, in particular, calling for the bill to be scrapped due to a lack of consultation.

Bill 18 is also scheduled for the fall sitting. Known as The Provincial Priorities Act, the bill would attempt to take control of federal agreements to send money to municipalities and other provincial entities.

The change would also apply to school boards, health authorities, post-secondary institutions, crown corporations, and housing organizations. Similar legislation is already in place in Quebec.

Legislation is also incoming that would move to an opt-in system for sexual education in the province. On the same front, the fall sitting will see a proposal to restrict transgender youth access to gender-affirming healthcare, ban transgender participation in female sports, and require parental consent or notification on sex education and changes to pronouns and names in schools.

These policies are among 35 set to be debated at the UCP AGM in Red Deer Nov. 1 and 2, where party members will also vote on their confidence in Premier Danielle Smith.

The 31st Legislature session runs until Dec. 5