Alberta’s second session of the 31st Legislature opened this week with a Speech from the Throne against a backdrop of municipal elections, a province-wide teachers’ strike, and global economic uncertainty, the government outlined a bold vision built on sovereignty, fiscal restraint, and reform.
Delivered by Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, the Speech emphasized Alberta’s intent to act decisively within its constitutional authority while modernizing key areas such as energy development, health care, and immigration policy. Fifteen bills are expected this session, many focused on the government’s efforts to reform health care delivery in the province.
Immediately after the speech, the government introduced Bill 1: The International Agreements Act, which would require international agreements that touch on provincial jurisdiction—such as environmental, trade, or social policy—to be debated and approved by the Alberta Legislature before taking effect. The bill reinforces Premier Danielle Smith’s sovereignty agenda, drawing a constitutional line that asserts Alberta—not Ottawa—will decide how global and national frameworks apply within the province.
While sovereignty headlines the government’s agenda, the first order of business remains the Back to School Act (Bill 2) which is expected early next week to end the province-wide teachers’ strike that has kept students out of classrooms since early October. The government has signaled its willingness to use procedural tools to pass back-to-work legislation all in one day.
Fiscal priorities included in Thursday’s speech were the government goal of holding spending growth below inflation and population increases, growing the Heritage Savings Trust Fund to $250 billion by 2050, and managing rapid population growth through new school construction, infrastructure investments, and greater control over immigration.
Health-care reform remains a defining file for the Smith government. Alberta will continue its process of replacing Alberta Health Services with four specialized agencies focused on surgical services, acute care, mental health and addiction, and continuing care. The government also plans to expand chartered surgical centres, introduce activity-based hospital funding, and enable nurse practitioners to operate independent practices.
The overarching message from the speech was clear – Alberta aims to balance fiscal discipline and diversification with a renewed commitment to practical sovereignty. The province is positioning itself not only to navigate economic and political headwinds, but to shape its own trajectory within Canada’s evolving federation.