Alberta Government Moves to Eliminate DEI From Public Sector Hiring

Alberta Shifts Public Sector Hiring Policy

The Alberta government is moving to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) frameworks from public sector hiring, arguing that a merit-based system will ensure fairness and that the most qualified candidates are selected. The policy shift, championed by Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery, follows the introduction of Bill 13, the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, and has generated significant debate over its motivations and implications.

Government Rationale for Merit-Based Hiring

At a news conference, Smith and Amery stated that the new bill is designed to make public sector hiring more fair by focusing solely on qualifications. Bruce McAllister, the premier’s executive director, argued in a social media post that previous DEI-based hiring practices resulted in discrimination against certain groups, suggesting that hiring based on race or sexuality rather than experience is unfair. DEI frameworks typically aim to increase participation and fair treatment of underrepresented groups, but the government’s position is that such policies undermine a purely merit-based approach.

Impacted Institutions and Policy Changes

The bill will cover a wide range of provincial public agencies, including Crown corporations, post-secondary institutions, school boards, and municipalities. This move follows changes at the University of Alberta, where a policy that favored hiring historically underrepresented groups in cases of equally qualified candidates was rescinded after a provincially appointed panel recommended a shift towards greater neutrality.

Additionally, last year Smith and Amery introduced legislation known as the “Peterson law,” which eliminated mandatory DEI training from regulated professions in the wake of the 2022 sanctioning of author Jordan Peterson by Ontario’s psychology regulator.

Public and Political Reactions

Reaction to the government’s decision has varied. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the move as political posturing in a broader "culture war," claiming it does not address the real priorities of voters. Leela Aheer, a former UCP deputy leader and cabinet minister, argued that DEI frameworks help recruit the best candidates and that scrapping them sends a concerning message to marginalized groups. She linked the policy to broader anxieties among immigrants and vulnerable Albertans.

Erika Barootes, a former principal secretary to Smith, said that while DEI policies started with good intentions, they have gone too far and that many support a correction back toward merit-based hiring. Meanwhile, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees maintains that DEI hiring practices were never applied unfairly.

Broader Trends and National Context

Alberta’s move is one of several recent rollbacks of DEI policy in North America. In January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued executive orders against equity programs, and several American companies followed suit. DEI consultant Hagir Sail suggested that criticism of DEI comes both from American influence and domestic resistance. She rejected the claim that DEI means lowering content hiring standards, emphasizing that biases and systemic barriers still affect workplace advancement.

Polling offers mixed signals: a 2024 Leger poll found 57% of Canadians opposed factoring cultural background into hiring, yet polling from Abacus and Environics in 2025 indicated a majority still see DEI as having a positive societal impact.

DEI Debates Across Canada

The discussion is part of a wider national shift. In Quebec, Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has also voiced opposition to so-called "wokeism." In British Columbia, B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson pledged a return to merit-based hiring in the public sector. At the federal level, a recent parliamentary committee recommended against considering DEI in research funding.

Dave Snow, a political science associate professor at the University of Guelph, told a federal committee that DEI frameworks in academia risk overshadowing research excellence. Yet he remains skeptical about any imminent sweeping changes at the federal or academic level, observing that resistance to aggressive rollback in Canada remains strong.

What Comes Next for Alberta

Once Alberta’s new bill receives royal assent and comes into force, the way that public agencies—including educational and municipal organizations—hire staff will formally change. This move marks a significant shift in the provincial approach to workplace diversity, and Alberta’s position may influence similar discussions and policies nationwide.

Source: cbc.ca.