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Part of New and proposed legislation

Modernizing post-secondary education

Actions to strengthen innovation and support the development of a highly skilled and competitive workforce.

Status: Bill 74 received royal assent on December 2, 2021
Bill 67 received royal assent on June 17, 2021
Ministry responsible: Advanced Education

Overview

Guided by the transformational vision of the Alberta 2030 strategy, we are committed to ensuring Alberta’s world-class post-secondary system will equip Albertans with the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to succeed in their lifelong pursuits.

Bill 74, the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act amends the Post-secondary Learning Act and the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act to align with the Alberta 2030 strategy, reflect feedback from stakeholders, provide more precise direction to the post-secondary system and simplify processes by removing red tape.

Bill 67, the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act repeals and replaces the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act to make the system more flexible, reduce red tape and give Alberta’s workforce new tools to meet emerging challenges. Changes were also informed by recommendations from the Skills for Jobs Task Force to renew and expand apprenticeship education.

Key changes: Bill 74 the Advanced Education Statutes Amendments Act

Bill 74, the Advanced Education Statutes Amendments Act updates the following:

  • Post-secondary Learning Act

    • Updates the preamble to reflect changes to the post-secondary system principles arising from the Alberta 2030 vision and strategic direction.
    • Provides authority to establish the Minister’s Advisory Council on Higher Education and Skills (MACHES), which will be responsible for advising the Minister of Advanced Education on:
      • strategic goals and direction for post-secondary education in Alberta
      • metrics for measuring the performance of public post-secondary and independent academic institutions in Alberta
      • other matters as requested by the Minister of Advanced Education
    • Changes the number of categories of post-secondary institutions. There will be one category for universities and another for polytechnics and colleges.
    • Changes the way term limits for board members are set out under the act from a limit of 2 consecutive terms of up to 3 years each to a limit of 6 consecutive years of service, regardless of the number of terms.
    • Transfers authority to set apprenticeship tuition from the Minister of Advanced Education to the boards of governors of public post-secondary institutions. This change follows recommendations from the Skills for Jobs Task Force, better aligns apprenticeship fees with those of other post-secondary programs, and enables more flexibility for post-secondary institutions to set appropriate tuition rates.
    • Makes consequential amendments to apprenticeship terminology required to implement the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act.

  • Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act

    • Provides authority to make regulations to set apprentice wage rates to ensure existing wage rates continue after the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act is repealed, and ensure that wage rates may be set for new apprenticeship education programs when appropriate.
    • Provides authority to make regulations to set apprentice-to-mentor ratios, ensuring sponsored apprentices are employed in an on-the-job learning environment at the appropriate ratio for their apprenticeship education program, as is the case under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act today.
    • Amends provisions respecting designation of new trades to eliminate a conflict between the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act and the Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act that would have made new professions unable to be regulated under either act.

Key changes: Bill 67 the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act

Bill 67, the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act:

  • eliminates a significant amount of red tape for government, educators and industry, clearing the way to provide efficient and meaningful education and training
  • overhauls the legal framework to ensure the post-secondary system is flexible, responsive, and equipped to meet current and future challenges
  • separates apprenticeship education from skilled trades professions in legislation, enabling the expansion of the apprenticeship model to professions beyond designated trades
  • provides apprentices with an academic credential that properly reflects the level of knowledge and skills they have obtained
  • opens pathways to further education and new careers
  • better recognizes the high quality of apprenticeship education
  • modernizes the governance of skilled trades professions and increases recognition of the trades as valuable and meaningful careers
  • provides more flexibility and autonomy to an appointed board to govern the skilled trade professions and set certification standards, and enable stronger engagement with industry
  • provides post-secondary institutions with more autonomy on how they set curriculum, assess learning outcomes, and deliver classroom instruction

Next steps

The amendments to the Post-secondary Learning Act under Bill 74 will come into force in 2 stages:

  • Amendments that do not rely on the coming into force of the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act can be proclaimed immediately following Royal Assent.
  • Amendments that rely on the coming into force of the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act will be proclaimed once the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act comes into force in 2022.

The amendments to the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act under Bill 74 will come into force with the Act itself on proclamation in 2022.

Bill 67 will take effect upon proclamation.

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