New laws and regulations are coming to Alberta this year that will affect students, the healthcare system, and those applying for a mortgage.
From updates on where resorts can be built to laws surrounding girls’ sports, here’s a look at some of the key changes you need to be aware of.
Resorts can be built on Crown land
The All-Season Resorts Act aims to promote responsible development of year-round resorts on Crown land in Alberta by establishing an approval process to attract private investment. The Act will mandate “rigorous environmental reviews” and engagement with Indigenous Peoples, ensuring the preservation of Alberta’s heritage and protected spaces.
The Act will create a new All-Season Resorts Branch within the Ministry of Tourism and Sport to regulate resort projects, with the new regulator expected to begin operating in 2025.
Halal mortgages
The Alberta government is updating the province’s financial laws, including proposing changes to 10 pieces of legislation. Among those changes are the ability for Albertans to access alternative financing options to help expand mortgage financing options, indexing changes to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, and more support for parents who lost a child.
As it stands, members of Alberta’s Islamic community face barriers to accessing traditional mortgage financing. Provincially regulated financial institutions require interest collection, which conflicts with Islamic principles. Proposed changes would allow these institutions to offer alternative financing options to all qualified homebuyers, regardless of faith, with payments and costs similar to traditional mortgages.
These changes are expected to come into effect on various dates throughout 2025.
Anti-trans legislation
In December, Alberta’s government introduced three pieces of legislation aimed at transgender youth when it comes to schools, sex education, sports, and access to healthcare.
Bill 26
Bill 26, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, aims to update several key health laws in Alberta:
- Amendments would prohibit regulated health professionals from performing sex reassignment surgeries on minors.
- The amendments, together with anticipated regulation, would also ensure the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for the treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence will not be permitted for children aged 15 and under, except for those who have already commenced treatment.
- Minors aged 16 and 17 can choose to commence puberty blockers and hormone therapies for gender reassignment and affirmation purposes with parental, physician, and psychologist approval.
The act also refocuses Alberta Health Services on acute care, establishes a patient concerns resolution process, and lays the groundwork for new provincial health agencies. Additionally, it updates the definition of public health emergencies and allows the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services to access health data for better service planning.
The surgery ban took effect immediately upon receiving Royal Assent from the bill. The hormone therapy restrictions will roll out in early 2025, with exemptions to follow under a Ministerial Order.
Bill 29
Bill 29, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, effectively bans transgender athletes from competing in female-only sports divisions. The new law will require relevant organizations to establish athlete eligibility policies for the amateur competitive sports they offer and will support the formation of additional co-ed divisions that include transgender athletes.
Regulations created under the Act will clarify specific requirements for these policies, including limiting eligibility for female-only divisions to female-born athletes.
The new requirements for athlete eligibility policies are set to take effect in Fall 2025.
Bill 27
The Education Amendment Act introduces changes requiring parental notification and consent for students who request to be referred to by a new gender identity-related name or pronoun.
As part of the amendments, schools would also be required to:
- If parental notification is expected to result in psychological or emotional harm to the student, or if a student requests assistance, the school board would ensure the student receives assistance before notifying parents.
- Where teaching or instructional materials that deal primarily and explicitly with gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality are provided, parents would be notified of what is being taught at least 30 days in advance and be given the opportunity to opt in rather than opt out of this instruction.
Changes related to gender identity and sexuality education are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.