Alberta Premier Proposes Expansive Amendments to Provincial Bill of Rights
EDMONTON, Alberta— The UCP government has tabled Bill-24, which proposes several amendments to Alberta’s Bill of Rights. The government says the revisions aim to broaden personal freedoms and expand the Bill’s protections. Among the changes in Bill 24 are the right to refuse vaccines and other medical treatments, enhanced freedom of expression protections, and gun ownership rights.
Unlike the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Alberta Bill of Rights will not affect federal laws and will apply only to provincial government policy.
In a briefing, Alberta Justice officials indicated that courts would ultimately decide which organizations fall under the bill’s protections. The changes also clarify that existing medical mandates, such as immunization requirements for daycare and health facility staff under Alberta’s Public Health Act, will remain in place.
Smith emphasized that the government will not mandate employees to undergo unwanted medical treatments, while the Bill is crafted to ensure that law enforcement can still act under the Mental Health Act which allows authorities to compel treatment in certain situations.
Additionally, the amendments would allow officials to mandate addiction treatment for adults who have lost decision-making capacity, with further “compassionate intervention” legislation anticipated later in the fall sitting.