Perspectives on Alberta's proposed Regulated Professions Neutrality Act
The article reports that a new bill in Regulated Professions Neutrality Act — proposed by the government of Alberta — would significantly restrict when professional regulators (for example, organizations overseeing nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers) can penalize their members for off-duty speech or personal beliefs. The legislation aims to protect free expression, by barring regulators from disciplining professionals for “expressive” conduct outside work — except in narrow cases such as threats of violence, misuse of professional status, boundary violations, or sexual misconduct. It would also prohibit regulators from mandating sensitivity-training, cultural-competency courses, or other diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as a condition of licensure or membership. The Act would give this law priority over other existing professional-regulation laws, and shift the power for disciplinary-standards reforms from professional bodies to the government. Proponents frame it as defending individual rights to free speech and belief, while critics warn it could undercut efforts to ensure accountability and inclusion within regulated professions.