Alberta Tightens MLA Ethics and Gift Rules

Summary#

This bill tightens Alberta’s conflict-of-interest and gift rules for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and senior political staff. It adds a clear “perceived conflict” test, restricts gifts, and makes a staff code of conduct mandatory. Most changes take effect July 1, 2026.

• Adds a “reasonable perception” test: MLAs must avoid decisions where a well‑informed person could see their judgment as affected by a private interest.
• Requires MLAs to declare and leave Cabinet or Assembly meetings when they have an actual or perceived conflict.
• Broadens the ban on using office to influence decisions to cover decisions by anyone (not just the government), and adds spouses/common‑law partners to who counts as a “private interest.”
• Tightens gift rules: only non‑cash protocol gifts; no gifts from lobbyists; Ministers cannot accept gifts from people with business before the government; gifts over $100 must be disclosed within 15 days and approved to keep.
• Makes a code of conduct for the Premier’s and Ministers’ staff mandatory, with gift caps, reporting, and Ethics Commissioner oversight.
• Sets a fixed $100 disclosure threshold in law and trims government regulation powers over gift rules.

What it means for you#

• MLAs

  • You must step aside from decisions not only when you have a real conflict, but also when there is a reasonable perception your judgment is affected by a private interest of you, your child, or someone closely tied to you.
  • You must declare the interest and leave Cabinet (the Premier and Ministers) or Assembly meetings in those cases.
  • You cannot accept cash or cash‑like gifts (e.g., gift cards) as protocol gifts. Gifts over $100 must be reported within 15 days and approved by the Ethics Commissioner (an independent officer who enforces ethics rules) to keep.
  • You cannot accept gifts from lobbyists (people paid to influence government). Ministers also cannot accept gifts from people with business before the government (for example, seeking contracts, permits, or funding).
  • If no attendance record exists for a meeting, investigators cannot assume you were present when a conflict came up.

• Ministers

  • All MLA rules apply, plus a stricter ban on gifts from anyone with business before the government.
  • Expect more disclosures and pre‑approval steps for higher‑value gifts.

• Premier’s and Ministers’ staff

  • A formal code of conduct will apply to you. It will set maximum gift values, require disclosure of gifts over $100, and require Ethics Commissioner approval to keep gifts over that amount.
  • You cannot accept gifts from lobbyists or from people with business before the government.
  • Breaches can lead to discipline after investigation by the Ethics Commissioner.

• Lobbyists and people with business before the government

  • You cannot give gifts or benefits to MLAs if you are a lobbyist, and you cannot give gifts or benefits to Ministers or their senior staff if you have business before the government.
  • Event tickets, travel waivers, or similar benefits are much less likely to be allowed.

• Community groups, nonprofits, and constituents

  • Small, non‑cash protocol items may still be acceptable, but check the $100 cap and approval rules. If you lobby government or seek government decisions, do not offer gifts.
  • You will see more public reporting of gifts over $100 in MLA disclosure statements.

• General public

  • The aim is fewer conflicts and more transparency around gifts and influence.
  • Rules take effect July 1, 2026.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Clearer, stricter rules will reduce both real and perceived conflicts, boosting public trust.
• Banning gifts from lobbyists and from people with business before the government closes common loopholes.
• A fixed $100 threshold and 15‑day reporting make rules simple and consistent.
• Expanding the influence rule beyond government decisions prevents back‑door pressure on agencies, boards, or others.
• A mandatory staff code of conduct brings senior political staff under similar standards, with independent oversight.

Opponents' View#

• The “reasonable perception” test may be vague and could discourage normal MLA advocacy for constituents.
• Broader influence rules (covering any decision by any person) may overreach and complicate routine interactions with community groups and businesses.
• Tight gift limits and fast reporting timelines add administrative burden for MLAs, staff, and the Ethics Commissioner.
• Removing regulation‑based exceptions for event tickets and travel may hinder MLAs’ participation in legitimate events.
• The rule that no inference can be made about meeting attendance if no record exists may make some conflict cases harder to prove.