Status: Bill 36, the Supporting Alberta Families Statutes Amendment Act 2026, was introduced on October 29, 2026
Ministry responsible: Children and Family Services
Overview
Bill 36, the Supporting Alberta Families Statutes Amendment Act 2026, proposes legislative amendments to improve child intervention services, support family connections and strengthen protections for vulnerable children and youth. If passed, amendments to the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, would prioritize placing children with relatives or trusted family friends, give families and caregivers a greater role in placement decisions and simplify processes to help children find stable, long-term homes. Proposed amendments to the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act would strengthen protections for children against online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The proposed amendments focus on 5 areas:
- administrative fairness
- participation by families and caregivers
- system improvements
- adoption processes
- modernized terminology
Key changes
If passed, the amendments from Bill 36 would:
- update the definition of child sexual exploitation to protect children and youth from online harms
- recognize the important role of kinship caregivers to help children and youth maintain meaningful family and cultural connections
- make processes clearer and easier to navigate, supporting timely decisions to help children and youth find safe, stable and permanent homes
- expand court participation rights by providing notice of court proceedings to more people who have cared for the child
Together, the proposed amendments would improve consistency and accountability to help ensure Alberta’s children and youth receive appropriate support and protection.
Next steps
The amendments from Bill 36 will take effect upon proclamation.