What is the Professional Governance Act?
First introduced to the Alberta Legislature in 2022 as Bill 23 The Professional Governance Act (PGA) is intended make it easier for self-governing professions to protect Albertans’ health, safety and economic interests by streamlining the legislation governing 22 non-health professional regulatory organizations.
When passed, the PGA will consolidate 9 current acts that govern these organizations into a single act with one supporting regulation and align it with the Labour Mobility Act and the Fair Registration Practices Act.
The Alberta Association of Architects is one of the regulatory organizations that will be part of this new legislation.
Anticipated timeline
The process for development of new legislation is time-consuming with timelines often fluid. Here is what we know for now:
2024
AAA is working with the Ministry of Advanced Education to contribute to the smooth transition to new legislation.
2025
The Professional Governance Act, General Regulation and Schedules are anticipated to be introduced in the Alberta Legislature in the Spring of 2025 whey they hope to receive Royal Ascent, meaning the legislation would be formally approved.
The legislation would come into force by government proclamation several months later, likely the Fall of 2025.
Stay informed . . .
These web pages are to keep AAA registrants and other interested parties informed about the pending transition from the Architects Act to the Professional Governance Act (PGA).
Watch these pages for regular updates on activities by AAA volunteers, staff, consultants and the folks within the Skilled Trades and Professions branch within the Ministry of Advanced Education.
Message from the President
Natasha Jalbert, Licensed Interior Designer, AAA
President
As a professional regulatory organization (PRO) we have been working towards updated legislation for many years. As everyone within AAA knows, it has been a marathon that has taken us through several changes in government. The Ministry of Advanced Education now owns the mandate for the Professional Governance Act (PGA) that will see more than 20 other PROs operating under a common framework in a modern regulatory environment.
We welcome the introduction of the new Act, General Regulation, and a AAA-specific Schedule as they will allow us to work under modernized legislation. We appreciate the work the Ministry team has put towards this important project. Our hope is that many elements will be streamlined allowing AAA to in turn, streamline our approach to regulation.
In this latest iteration of the PGA, we have been working with the Ministry since late 2023 in anticipation of the new Act coming into effect in fall of 2025. This new legislation will be the primary focus of the AAA in the foreseeable future as we work to understand how the new legislation will influence new bylaws, policies, processes and every aspect of AAA operations.
I encourage you to bookmark this website to follow along as we work through the process of preparing for our new guiding legislation.