Professional regulators in Alberta may soon have less control over censoring employees’ and members’ personal opinions and beliefs.
A joint announcement from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery has come in response to growing concerns that professional bodies have been overstepping their boundaries by restricting free speech and requiring compulsory training unrelated to professional duties.
Smith said that Albertans value free speech and the right to freely express their beliefs without government or professional regulators censoring them.
“A diversity of opinions and beliefs is one of the hallmarks of a free, healthy, and democratic society,” said Smith. “Many of the greatest ideas and advancements in history started out as non-conventional and controversial ideas that became popular in mainstream only after brave women and men were able to convince their fellow citizens of their value.”
Amery said that troubling trends have been seen worldwide where governments and governing bodies believe they should be the arbiters of truth and determine what constitutes misinformation and dictate speech restrictions for anyone who disagrees.
Smith said that this has happened in Canada, too, where professional colleges and other regulating bodies have exerted authority beyond their mandate by regulating the personal beliefs and political opinions of doctors, lawyers, psychologists, and other professionals.
“What a doctor or lawyer believes or says about politics is not a reflection of their competency to practice medicine or law,” said Smith.
Amery shared four such examples seen in Canada, including a Saskatchewan nurse facing a $26,000 fine for criticizing care her grandfather received, and a doctor complaining about a church changing communion protocol because of Covid, which resulted in her regulator cautioning her.
The Justice Minister also said that the Law Society of Ontario has created a statement of principles, forcing their lawyers to state their commitment to numerous ideological values and principles that the regulator deems appropriate.
The last example provided was Dr. Jordan Peterson, who was born in Alberta.
The same burdensome, long, and expensive process of professionals facing investigation or discipline due to their political or policy opinions outside of their professional practice has been happening in Alberta, according to Amery.
But not anymore. Smith promised that George Orwell’s 1984 will remain fictional as amendments are introduced to the Alberta Bill of Rights to ensure professional regulators stay within their mandates.
However, before the new regulations are implemented, the government of Alberta will be gathering input from regulated professionals and regulatory bodies.
Alberta is home to 189 regulated professions across 12 ministries. The province will be working with 118 such professions across 11 government ministries. Professions that are not self-regulating or have no regulatory body are not involved in the review.
Amery told True North that despite his and Smith’s video and press release making no mention of examples of censure during Covid, some of the aforementioned 118 professional bodies are in the healthcare industry.
“We expect the review to be a comprehensive engagement process that may include instances of professionals who faced complaints during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amery.