Many workers in Alberta’s regulated professions may see changes in how they are investigated by their licensing bodies for off-duty speech if a new bill is passed. Justice Minister Mickey Amery presented the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, also known as Bill 13, in the legislature following concerns about regulators’ impact on free speech. Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that disciplining individuals for expressing personal views outside work infringes on free expression rights.
Health law experts argue that such rules could worsen the dissemination of medical misinformation and put Alberta’s professional regulation out of sync with the rest of the nation. The proposed legislation, dubbed the “Peterson bill” after psychologist Jordan Peterson, aims to restrict the types of training that regulatory bodies can mandate for their members. It stipulates that certain training, like cultural competency or diversity training, cannot be made obligatory unless directly relevant to a worker’s competence or ethics.
The bill grants regulatory bodies the authority to address members’ conduct outside of work in specific situations, such as threats of violence or sexual misconduct. Over 100 regulated professions, including lawyers, nurses, and engineers, would fall under the bill’s purview. However, details on the timeline for regulatory bodies to adjust their bylaws and training requirements, as well as the law’s effective date, are still pending.
The push for this legislation originated from the United Conservative Party members, who voted to restrict professional disciplinary investigations to job-related activities only. Premier Smith’s commitment to protecting professionals’ right to express personal opinions was reinforced by feedback from doctors apprehensive about potential repercussions from regulatory bodies for public stances, such as supporting the government’s policies on medical treatments for minors.
Critics, including health law professor Timothy Caulfield, caution that relaxing regulations could fuel the spread of medical misinformation. They stress the importance of holding regulated professionals accountable for their public statements to safeguard against harm. The prevailing view supports the notion that professionals bear a responsibility to uphold ethical standards in their practice.
Advocates for diversity and inclusion training, like Marcie Hawranik of Canadian Equality Consulting, express disappointment over the bill’s perceived misconceptions. They argue that such education fosters better workplace communication and reduces conflicts. However, opposition voices, such as Alberta NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir, raise concerns about potential abuse of free speech in a diverse society if accountability measures are relaxed.
The impact of the bill on regulatory bodies, like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and the Law Society of Alberta, is still being assessed. These organizations stress their commitment to protecting the public interest while ensuring the legislation’s implications for their operations, the public, and the legal profession are thoroughly understood.