Alberta is looking to end public sector hiring practices aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion.
asserted
Alberta → look → diversity
A government bill tabled Tuesday, if passed, would prohibit a number of public bodies from using DEI policies to make hiring decisions.
asserted
bill → table → decisions
Premier Danielle Smith said hiring needs to be based on merit and qualifications so that everyone has a fair chance at getting jobs.
asserted
everyone → say → jobs
“Albertans expect public institutions to hire and promote the best-qualified people and ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed based on their skills, experience and qualifications,” Smith told reporters in Edmonton.
asserted
Smith → expect → Edmonton
“These changes will help to ensure that fairness is at the heart of hiring.”
asserted
fairness → help → hiring
The bill covers public agencies, Crown corporations, post-secondary schools, school boards and municipalities.
asserted
bill → cover → agencies
However, government officials said provincial employees are already hired based on merit.
asserted
employees → say → merit
The officials also said the change could apply to non-profit agencies receiving government grants, but that would be determined through future regulations.
uncertain
that → say → regulations
They said there would be some exceptions to the prohibition but didn’t provide examples.
asserted
They → say → examples
The proposed legislation would further prohibit public bodies from having mandatory DEI training for staff, except when necessary for the job.
asserted
legislation → propose → job
Other mandatory training would be required to be “ideologically neutral” and focus on job duties and skills.
asserted
training → require → duties
The bill, tabled by Justice Minister Mickey Amery, specifically targets the Alberta Human Rights Act.
asserted
bill → table → Act
The government said it’s changing a section of the act that allows for policies and programs aiming to uplift those who may be disadvantaged because of their race, disability, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, age or other personal circumstance, including marital status.
uncertain
who → say → status
Officials said hiring and promotion practices would continue to be subject to other protections or provisions under the act.
asserted
practices → say → act
Opposition NDP member Kathleen Ganley said the NDP hasn’t heard any concerns about DEI hiring practices, leaving her to think the changes are more aimed at distracting from issues that are far bigger priorities for Albertans, like affordability and health care.
“This is a solution in want of a problem,” Ganley said.
asserted
Ganley → say → problem
Sandra Azocar, the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, agreed with Ganley, saying public sector employers already hire the best candidates.
asserted
employers → agree → candidates
Azocar, whose union represents nearly 100,000 workers that are mostly in the public sector, said she believes Smith is trying to appease the “extreme factions” within her party.
asserted
Smith → represent → party
It’s not the first time Smith’s United Conservative Party government has cracked down on DEI policies.
asserted
government → ’ → policies
Last year, it passed legislation prohibiting professional regulatory bodies, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, from making members undergo training around diversity initiatives.
asserted
members → pass → initiatives
That legislation also limits what behaviour regulatory bodies can police their members on.
asserted
bodies → limit → members
The government said at the time that it was inspired by Ontario psychologist and social media personality Jordan Peterson, who was sanctioned by his province’s professional regulator for controversial public statements.
asserted
who → say → statements
Amery’s bill also aims to make changes to other provincial laws, including added penalties for the distribution or threat of distribution of digitally altered intimate images without consent.
asserted
bill → aim → consent
While the issue is mainly a federal Criminal Code matter, Alberta has laws that allow residents to take civil court action.
asserted
residents → have → action
The bill aims to capture other types of content, including audio recordings, livestreams and images created using artificial intelligence.
asserted
bill → aim → intelligence
The government said those who violate the law could face fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
uncertain
who → say → years
It also said the bill would allow the courts to give community service sentences.
asserted
courts → say → sentences
Ganley said the NDP supported these change but said the government’s choice to tie the bill to ending DEI hiring practices was “inappropriate.”
asserted
choice → say → practices
The Aporia
