The Alberta government has introduced groundbreaking legislation dubbed the "Jordan Peterson law" that aims to shield professionals from disciplinary action by regulatory bodies for their off-duty conduct and expressions.
New Legislation Details
Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled Bill 13 - the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act in the legislature on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The bill represents one of the most significant changes to professional regulation in Alberta's recent history.
Premier Danielle Smith expressed strong support for the legislation, telling reporters: "I'm hoping that the professional colleges understand that they've gone too far. We don't look at them as being on the front line of creating some kind of social narrative that requires conformity."
Scope and Application
The legislation will apply to approximately 173 occupations across 79 regulatory bodies according to provincial documentation. This includes prominent organizations like the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, the Alberta Securities Commission, and the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
The bill's reach extends beyond traditional professions to include regulators overseeing everything from horse racing jockeys and automotive salespeople to hunting guides. No regulatory body covered by the legislation would retain the authority to regulate expressive off-duty conduct once the bill takes effect.
Key Provisions and Exceptions
Beyond protecting off-duty expression, the legislation also restricts mandatory training unrelated to competence or ethics, specifically targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements that professional colleges might impose on their members.
The bill does include important exceptions where disciplinary action would remain permissible. These circumstances include threats of physical violence, intent to harm an identifiable person, and misconduct related to professional boundaries with clients, patients, or students.
In announcing the bill, Premier Smith referenced the case of psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, who faced multiple complaints with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario over his online conduct. The college had ruled that Peterson's social media posts, including his refusal to use preferred pronouns of trans people, were degrading to the psychology profession and ordered him to undergo social media training to maintain his license.
The legislation represents a significant shift in how professional conduct is regulated in Alberta, potentially setting a precedent for other provinces grappling with similar issues around professional regulation and free expression rights.
