Alberta Government Tables Bill to Ban DEI Hiring Policies in Public Sector

The Alberta government has tabled legislation that would prohibit the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria in public-sector hiring decisions. Justice Minister Mickey Amery introduced Bill 33, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, on Oct. 27, as Alberta’s legislature reconvened for its fall sitting. The bill would amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to prohibit provincial bodies from giving preference to certain candidates in hiring or promotion decisions based on protected personal categories such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. The government would retain the right to grant exemptions through regulations. “Hiring decisions should be about who is best qualified for the job, and these changes will help ensure that fairness is at the heart of hiring,” Premier Danielle Smith said in an Oct. 27 media statement....