Alberta proposes changes to Public Health Act after COVID-19 court ruling

Province wants more health authority The Alberta government wants politicians to have more power over health decisions. Jeremy Thompson explains.

The Alberta government is proposing changes to the Public Health Act to allow politicians to make final decisions in public health emergencies.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery says elected officials have a responsibility to act in the best interest of Albertans and the amended legislation would make sure they can make decisions.

In August, several health charges were dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor and church as well as a central Alberta man who hosted a rodeo in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.

The cases were quashed after a court decision a month earlier found the Alberta government under then-United Conservative Party premier Jason Kenney improperly imposed the orders under the Public Health Act.

The judge found that Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who was the province's chief medical officer of health at the time, had not made the decision to impose the orders — instead leaving it up to provincial cabinet.

The decision said the orders would have been constitutional had they been properly enacted by Hinshaw.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.