6 ❚ The ATA News , December 9, 2025
Understanding potential implications of Bill 13 for teachers
EXECUTIVE REPORT
Tim Jeffares ATA Associate Coordinator Regulatory Affairs
The holidays are almost here! Our office will be closed from December 25 to January 1 inclusive. We look forward to serving you when we reopen on January 2 . Questions about your pension? ✔ We have resources available to support you throughout your pension journey. ✔ Sign in to My Pension , our secure online portal, to access your personal pension information. ✔ Visit www.atrf.com for the latest news and information about your pension. ✔ Book an appointment with one of our knowledgeable pension counsellors through My Pension .
O n November 20, 2025, Bill 13, the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act (RPNA) , passed first reading in the Alberta legislature. While the final act, if passed, will require scrutiny to unpack its impact on the teaching profession, analysis of the initial draft raises some potential areas of concern. What Bill 13 does Bill 13, which would apply to all professional regulatory bodies in Alberta, puts limits on a professional regulator’s ability to sanction expression outside professional activities. Regulators may still sanction registrants if their expressive conduct falls into a narrow category of behaviour that includes threats of violence; comments that result in criminal conviction; boundary violations with clients; and anything having to do with sexualized comments to students, distribution of sexual images of students and sexualized communications to students. Bill 13 also puts limits on mandatory education and training. In particular, section 8 of the bill strictly prohibits mandated education and training pertaining to cultural competencies, unconscious biases and anything to do with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Finally, Bill 13 replaces “reasonableness” with “correctness” as the standard of review for internal regulatory appeals and judicial review. As this change is a departure from regulatory law principles adhered to across Canada, a deep analysis of what this might mean for practitioners in Alberta, including While regulators and practitioners will need to wait to see the final contents of the bill if and when it becomes law, the current wording signals some notable changes for teachers. First, the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission (ATPC) would be unable to sanction teachers for political comments, online posts, controversial opinions and other forms of off duty speech unless they fall into the narrow category of conduct or comments summarized above.This does not mean teachers or other professionals are no longer responsible for their words, just that there is more latitude afforded professionals for the comments they make while off duty. Second, this bill would limit the regulator from mandating DEI training in response to complaints of unprofessional conduct or competency matters. Presently, there are no mandated DEI requirements from the regulator that need to be satisfied prior to being certificated as a teacher, though the Teaching Quality Standard speaks to inclusion in the context of teacher competency. Of note, it would seem that divisions and individual schools may still undertake DEI training as part of their employment. These potential changes would pertain to the regulatory body only. Off-duty conduct could still be investigated by the employer and have an impact in that context. The broader context teachers, needs to be undertaken. How this impacts teachers Though the full implications of Bill 13 remain to be seen, what regulators fear most is political interference in professional reg- ulatory processes, something teachers have already experienced. As of January 1, 2023, the government removed the regulatory function from the ATA and assumed responsibility for the regulation of all certificated teachers in the province of Alberta. That move sent chills through the regulatory communities in Alberta and across the country. The formation of the ATPC is a cautionary tale of a government wanting to take over discipline for political reasons to ensure control over teachers and their professional standing. Other professions may view Bill 13 as governmental overreach into their own self-governing professions and as a signal of the government’s intent to oversee the conduct and competence of Alberta’s professionals. If you have received a Notice of Complaint from the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission, contact the ATA’s Regulatory Affairs team immediately. Call 1-800-232-7208 or email professionaldiscipline@ata.ab.ca for support.
Educational Technology Council Plug Into Learning Conference 2026 Expert AI Insights: Keynotes by Dr. Sarah Eaton & Dr. Jon Dron 25+ K–12 Sessions: Practical strategies for your classroom Connect in Canmore: All-inclusive networking in the Rockies Extras: Prizes, social events, and more! bit.ly/etcata26
JANUARY 19–20, 2026
School and system leaders new to their role within the last five years are welcome to register for the ATA’s foremost conference in educational leadership.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
REGISTER FOR YOUR 2-DAY CONFERENCE DoubleTree Hilton West Edmonton 16615 109 Avenue NW
Dr. Lisa Everitt ATA Executive Staff Officer
Dr. Astrid Kendrick Director, Field Experience
LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS
www.teachers.ab.ca
Follow us on Instagram: abteachers
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting