Alberta emerged as a defender of freedoms for its residents—and often all Canadians—often consisting of battles against the federal government or championing individual rights.
Some of the key ways the Alberta government fought for freedoms can be found below.
Sovereignty Act
Though not a numbered list, we’d be remiss to start with anything but Alberta’s invocation of the Sovereignty Act – which was implemented to protect against federal overreach.
The Sovereignty Act was used for the first time on Nov. 27, 2023, in response to the Liberals’ program designed to mandate a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.
Almost exactly one year later, on Nov. 26, 2024, Alberta invoked the act once more to combat the Liberals’ oil and gas emissions cap.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned that the cap would cut one million barrels of oil daily by 2030 and that 150,000 Canadians would lose their jobs, reducing Canada’s GDP by up to $1 trillion between 2030 and 2040.
“Ottawa seems to think that they need to save us from ourselves, but they are wrong because we’re not just working with industry to continue to drive down emissions; we’re succeeding at it. Alberta already has a system in place that is working,” said Smith. “Emissions per barrel are declining even as production and contribution to GDP grows. Alberta’s energy industry doesn’t just provide jobs to Albertans but to Canadians all across our country. And it doesn’t just power Alberta’s economy, it powers Canada’s.”
Alberta Bill of Rights
Alberta’s United Conservative Party is in the midst of introducing 13 bills this legislative session that are set to protect personal autonomy, property rights, and legal firearm ownership.
Among the legislation is the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act.
The Alberta Bill of Rights had not been significantly updated since its introduction in 1972.
There is some overlap between the Alberta legislation and the federal Charter, which was adopted a decade later, but a notable point of divergence is the Alberta Bill of Rights’ guarantee of property rights and the right of parents to make informed decisions about their children’s education.
The 2024 changes include the right for Albertans not to be subjected to or coerced into receiving medical care, treatment, or procedure without consent. It includes the right not to be compelled or coerced into not taking a vaccine. Freedom of expression rights were expanded beyond written and spoken language to include other expressive activities. Additionally, rights to acquire, keep, and use firearms were added to reinforce the right to lawful firearm ownership. Property rights were also expanded.
The amendments took effect Dec. 5, 2024.
Other bills were passed in Dec. that strengthen parental rights, promote fairness in sports, and prevent minors from undergoing irreversible gender transitions and are expected to come into effect on Sep. 1, 2025.
Exporting Alberta’s Bill of Rights changes
Speaking at True North Nation, Smith called on her federal counterpart, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, to follow her lead and amend the Canadian Bill of Rights to strengthen protections that may be absent in the Charter.
“I think that we should stop looking at the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as the full, comprehensive expression of all rights and freedoms we are endowed with,” said Smith.
The premier said she believed Poilievre could make these amendments if he’s elected prime minister without having a huge constitutional discussion.
“I think we’re entering an era now where people are demanding that their governments respect them and not treat them the way they were treated during that terrible COVID era,” said Smith.
Enhanced election laws
The Albertan government introduced sweeping changes to its local election laws in April.
Among them was the introduction of political parties at the municipal level, which will take place as pilots during the next municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary. Local candidates are not required to join a political party but are allowed to do so or run as independents. No affiliation will be allowed with provincial or federal parties.
All automated voting equipment, like electronic tabulators, will be prohibited at municipal elections, with votes being counted by hand.
Voters will no longer be able to vouch for someone’s identity or citizenship if they fail to produce documentation, but can still vouch for another elector’s residence.
Another update will allow those waiting in line when polls close to cast their vote. However, nobody will be allowed to join the queue after polls close.
Municipalities will be able to require a criminal record check for candidates, which will be publicly available data included in the candidate’s nomination package.
Alberta tops economic freedom ranking among provinces
Alberta has been recognized as one of the freer places in North America, with one study highlighting its economic freedom — far exceeding its provincial peers.
A Fraser Institute study ranked Alberta 12th for economic freedom across North America’s subnational jurisdictions, including Canada’s ten provinces, America’s 50 states, Mexico’s 32 states, and the United States territory of Puerto Rico. Alberta was tied with Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, and South Dakota.
Alberta was the freest province, with its closest challenger being British Columbia, ranking 43rd. While British Columbia ranked decently on the freedom scale, it was more than three and a half times less economically free than Alberta.
Alberta received an overall score of 8.01, trailing the leader, New Hampshire, which had a score of 8.13.
The study measured ten indicators using 2022 data to measure the impact of provincial state and federal policies on economic freedom in each analyzed state and province.
The study used the ten variables in the areas of government spending, taxes, and labour market freedom. Other variables considered are legal systems, property rights, “sound money,” and freedom to trade internationally.
In 2022, government consumption spending in Alberta accounted for 26.8% of provincial income, compared to an average of 30.9% in the other provinces. Nova Scotia had the highest spending, at 34.2% of its provincial income.
“Because the government of Alberta spends less, its citizens are allowed to keep more of their money and make more of their own economic choices,” Matthew Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and the study’s co-author, told True North.
“Alberta’s top marginal tax rate is 15%, and it kicks in at a relatively high threshold of $267,724,” Mitchell said. “By contrast, it is 21% in Nova Scotia, and it kicks in at $124,650. PEI’s rate isn’t that high at 18.37%, but it kicks in at just $53,158.”