Alberta bill bars DEI in public‑sector hiring
Justice Minister Mickey Amery introduced a bill that would prohibit Alberta’s public institutions from using diversity, equity and inclusion criteria in recruitment and promotion, while also expanding penalties for non‑consensual sharing of intimate images.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled Bill 33, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 (No. 2), on Oct. 27, 2026. The bill would amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to bar the provincial public service, Crown corporations, publicly funded post‑secondary institutions, school boards and municipalities from hiring or promoting employees based on protected personal characteristics such as gender identity, race, religion or disability. It also would forbid mandatory DEI training, requiring workplace instruction to be “ideologically neutral and focused on job‑related duties and skills,” according to a government briefing note.
Reactions from politicians and unions
NDP MLA Kathleen Ganley called the proposal “a solution in want of a problem,” saying the government was “desperate to distract” from other issues. AUPE president Sandra Azocar warned that eliminating DEI policies could lead to “more blatant discrimination” and hurt immigrant job seekers. > "The checks and balances that [diversity, equity and inclusion] policies provide is to make sure that people are not discriminated against because of the colour of their skin or if they have a disability or their sexual orientation," Azocar said.
Premier Danielle Smith defended the bill, stating it would “remove any biases within a hiring board” and ensure “all public institutions look at applicants based on … skills and competence.” The ministry noted that exemptions could be granted through regulations and that the changes would not stop post‑secondary institutions from reserving spots for Indigenous teachers, doctors or lawyers.
Sextortion provisions
The same legislation would rename and expand the Victims of Non‑consensual Distribution of Intimate Images Act to cover sextortion and AI‑generated deepfakes. It creates a new offence punishable by a fine up to $10,000, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, and would allow victims to sue perpetrators. Ganley praised the sextortion amendments but said they should not be bundled with hiring reforms.