File photo of the Alberta Legislature building (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Public Health Act Changes

Shandro introduces bill to strengthen Public Health Act

Apr 13, 2021 | 1:57 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The Alberta Government is aiming to modernize the Public Health Act.

Minister of Health Tyler Shandro introduced Bill 66, the Public Health Amendment Act, in the legislature Monday afternoon, April 12.

He said that, “a modernized act will help Alberta’s government respond to public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the health and safety of all Albertans as a top priority.”

“Introducing this bill will have no impact on the current public health measures in place and will not impact the ability of the government to respond to the pandemic.”

Amendments proposed in Bill 66 were informed by feedback from Albertans and recommendations from the Select Special Public Health Act Review Committee, as well as Alberta Health.

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The amendments would also deliver on the province’s commitment to repeal sections in the Public Health Emergency Powers Amendment Act.

Actions included in Bill 66 are:

• Removing all sections in the Public Health Act that authorize a minister to modify legislation by order.
• Removing unnecessary powers to order mandatory immunization or conscription.
• Establishing that individuals must be immediately informed of the location if they are going to be detained.
• Establishing criteria that must be met before an individual can be treated or examined.
• Outlining how personal health information is collected or disclosed under the Public Health Act.
• Requiring orders that apply to the public or groups are published online.
• Requiring a periodic review of the Public Health Act every 10 years.
• Supporting a stepwise approach to escalating public health response.

The province says Bill 66 would also modernize the Public Health Act by reinforcing Alberta’s work to prevent chronic disease, updating outdated provisions and implementing lessons learned from public health responses, including the response to COVID-19.

Examples include:

• Updating provisions on absence from employment to reflect the possibility of working remotely.
• Establishing the qualifications of the Chief Medical Officer of Health in legislation.
• Addressing chronic disease and preventable injuries in the act to strengthen the province’s work on prevention.

Additionally, the proposed amendments would repeal the intoxicating gas and vapour provisions and the Regulated Matter Regulation, the help support the government’s efforts on red tape reduction.