Bills to control immigration, MAID coming in Alberta spring legislative session

The United Conservative Party government says bills that include controlling immigration and medical assistance in dying (MAID) will be introduced in Alberta’s spring legislative session.

Government House leader Joseph Schow shared details Tuesday about the government’s legislation plans, which include a bill aimed at controlling immigration by licensing international recruiters and immigration consultants, and increasing oversight for employers.

The bill also comes after Smith announced a referendum plan with questions on controlling immigration into the province and on constitutional changes, which is expected in October.

When asked if both the bill and a referendum are needed, Schow said they will work hand in hand.

“This legislation is important now, particularly as we begin to regulate recruiters and immigration consultants, creating a licensing process,” he said.

“This will allow us to ensure that it’s a fair, transparent process — it’s done above board.”

He cited anecdotes and media reports claiming some newcomers coming to Alberta are doing so under false pretenses.

“We want to make sure that if someone’s coming to Alberta to work as a permanent or non-permanent resident, that they’re going to be treated well, that they’re going to be treated fairly, be compensated fairly,” he said.

The Alberta government also wants to regulate how MAID is performed in the province, saying it would ensure “consistent oversight that protects vulnerable Albertans.”

“Our government is taking steps to protect vulnerable Albertans by prohibiting medical assistance in dying in Alberta for select groups, including minors, mature minors, individuals with a mental illness or disorder as their sole underlying condition, individuals making advance requests, and adults without healthcare decision-making,” Schow said.

Currently, federal law says people suffering solely from a mental illness would have been eligible for MAID in 2024, depending on certain criteria and safeguards. However, the change has been delayed until at least 2027 as debate continues.

Also Tuesday, a bill to further implement the newly named Alberta Sheriffs Police Service (ASPS) was introduced by Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis — the government’s first bill of the sitting.

The legislation, if passed, would transfer all 1,200 Alberta Sheriffs employees, including administrative staff and officers, to the ASPS. The province says it would create more policing options for municipalities. Ellis said it also creates a “pathway” for existing sheriffs to undertake training to become full-fledged police officers.

This comes after Premier Danielle Smith announced Monday some of the first details of the budget, which is expected to be filled with red ink, saying the province would be boosting its spending on doctors by 22 per cent.

Meanwhile, Smith’s Thursday budget pledge also comes amid delays for a promised government plan to place triage physicians in emergency rooms to alleviate long waits and prevent deaths.

Hospitals Minister Matt Jones had promised the new triage doctors would be in place on Feb. 1 following the death of a 44-year-old man waiting for care in an Edmonton hospital emergency room.

Jones told reporters Tuesday the government approved $20 million over two years for the triage spots, but said the Alberta Medical Association’s emergency medicine department sent a “counter proposal” with seven requests related to compensation and liability issues.

“But I remain optimistic that we will get these (positions) filled once we resolve these differences on compensation,” Jones said. 

However, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Jones was deflecting accountability.

“Now they’re blaming doctors for not wanting to do the jobs because they invented the jobs on the back of a napkin,” Nenshi told reporters.

Other bills that will be introduced include ways to grow tourism and reduce red tape.

The spring session is set to end in May, just after the deadline for a petition that aims to force a vote on Alberta’s separation from Canada.

Nenshi says he plans to make separatism a key debate and denounce it during the session, something he says Smith’s United Conservatives should do as well.

With files from The Canadian Press