Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has introduced proposed legal changes aimed at making merit the central criterion for public-sector hiring and strengthening legal protections against the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including digitally altered and artificial intelligence-generated content.
The proposals are part of Bill 33, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026. The legislation would amend the Alberta Human Rights Act and the province’s Intimate Images Act, alongside changes intended to modernise other aspects of the justice system.
Under the proposed employment provisions, public institutions would be required to base recruitment and promotion decisions on applicants’ qualifications, professional experience, skills and ability to meet job requirements, rather than diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The measures would cover public agencies, Crown-controlled organisations, post-secondary institutions, school boards and municipalities.
Government Pushes for Merit-Based Recruitment
Premier Danielle Smith said public institutions should offer equal opportunities to candidates based on their abilities and qualifications. She argued that recruitment decisions should focus on selecting the most suitable person for each position.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Mickey Amery similarly said the proposed changes were intended to establish neutral hiring and workplace training practices across the public sector.
The amendments would also address workplace training, with institutions expected to ensure that training relates directly to employees’ duties and responsibilities rather than requiring DEI-focused programmes.
The proposed rules would allow personal characteristics to be considered where a particular characteristic is genuinely necessary to perform a job.
Geoffrey Sigalet, an assistant professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, expressed support for merit-based recruitment in universities. He said concerns about demographic-based hiring could affect public confidence in academic institutions and the research they produce.
Proposed Law Targets AI-Generated Intimate Content
Alongside the hiring changes, the bill seeks to strengthen protections for people whose intimate images or recordings are shared without their permission.
The proposed amendments would establish a provincial offence covering the non-consensual distribution of both authentic and altered intimate images. Penalties could include fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for as long as two years, or both.
The expanded protections would cover digitally manipulated and AI-generated intimate images, videos and audio, addressing the growing potential for technology to be used to create misleading or harmful intimate content.
The legislation would also give victims the option to pursue civil legal action when intimate material is distributed without consent. Legal remedies could extend to threats to share such material, even where the threatened distribution has not taken place.
Another proposed provision would allow individuals to withdraw consent for the distribution of intimate content. The amendments would also provide a basis for accountability where negligent conduct results in such material being circulated.
Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish said the government recognised the benefits of artificial intelligence but warned that its misuse could cause serious harm. He said the proposed changes were intended to ensure that legal protections keep pace with technological developments.
Sexual Assault Services Group Welcomes Proposed Changes
The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services welcomed the planned expansion of protections against the unauthorised creation and distribution of intimate content.
Haley Scott, the organisation’s co-chief executive officer, said the misuse of intimate material, whether genuine or AI-generated, can violate privacy and undermine an individual’s sense of security.
Scott said the proposed amendments could give people affected by sexual violence greater control over their options for seeking justice while helping hold those responsible for harm accountable.
Changes Also Cover Family Justice and Legal Appointments
The legislative package includes further amendments relating to Alberta’s courts and legal profession.
Proposed changes to the King’s Counsel Act would expand eligibility for appointments by ensuring that lawyers are not unfairly disadvantaged by parental leave or other periods of approved absence when their years of professional service are assessed.
Currently, time away from legal practice does not count towards the service requirement for King’s Counsel eligibility. The proposed amendments seek to address that issue for lawyers who have made significant contributions to Alberta’s legal system.
Changes to the Court of King’s Bench Act would also support the province’s Family Focused Protocol, which aims to maintain a family-oriented approach to resolving divorce and other family-law proceedings.
The government says the proposed measures are intended to address public-sector recruitment, respond to technology-related privacy risks and improve the administration of justice. The changes remain legislative proposals and would need to proceed through the lawmaking process before becoming law.
