Alberta says it will ease rules for driver’s licences, ID cards, year-round resorts, internationally trained workers, and deer and elk hunting. CBC
Alberta announced a wide round of legislative changes this week affecting identification rules, international professional accreditation, year-round resort development, and regulations for deer and elk hunting. The package appears in Bill 10, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, introduced by Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally.
Nally said the province continues to push for fewer rules and faster processes. “Alberta has reduced red tape by 35 per cent since 2019,” he told reporters. He said the effort removed about 220,000 regulatory requirements and saved residents and businesses more than $3 billion since the initiative began.
New Identification Requirements
One major change involves government-issued ID. Alberta plans to include Canadian citizenship status and provincial health-care numbers directly on driver’s licences and other identification cards.
The rules come through amendments to the Traffic Safety Act and the Government Organization Act.
Nally said residents will only need to complete the process once. He said the new approach will speed up future applications for benefits and services. The province expects the change to take effect by mid-2026.
This follows an earlier announcement by Premier Danielle Smith, who said citizenship markers would help Alberta “prioritize those who are Canadian citizens first” when people apply for programs such as student aid, health benefits, and disability supports.
The provincial privacy commissioner, Diane McLeod, raised concerns in September. She said her office did not receive information about how the change would protect privacy. Her office now reviews the possible impact.
Decisions on a potential move away from paper health cards will come from the health ministry.
Opening Doors for International Professionals
The province also plans to change the Fair Registration Practices Act. The goal is to help internationally trained workers enter regulated professions more easily.
If approved, the amendments will stop regulators from requiring Canadian work experience unless they receive permission on public safety grounds.
The province said the change aims to ease labour shortages in health care and the skilled trades. Surveys earlier this year showed many newcomers struggled to find work in their field, with more than 15 per cent saying their credentials never received recognition.
New Rules for Deer and Elk Harvest Preserves
Changes to the Livestock Industry Diversification Act would allow regulated hunting of domestic deer and elk on private land.
These operations, called harvest preserves, let clients pay for controlled hunts. Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson said farmers sought the change due to weak export markets. He said the move offers a chance for new revenue.
The province would still require strict chronic wasting disease testing and tracking of animal movements. Between 2024 and 2025, Alberta found chronic wasting disease in hundreds of wild cervids, so monitoring remains critical.
A separate change to meat inspection rules would let hunters use the meat they harvest.
Expansion of All-Season Resort Development
The province also plans to expand the All-Season Resorts Act, passed in 2024. The law aims to support year-round resort projects on public land. The amendments would allow private land to be part of resort plans and clarify that the resort regulator can issue approvals under water and environmental legislation.
The province expects resort development to bring in billions in visitor spending and GDP over the next decade. Conservation groups said the province must balance development with protection of natural spaces.
