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Expansion of Alberta’s statutory bereavement and reservist leaves: What employers should know about Bill 17

By Alison Walsh and Jenny Wang
June 9, 2022
  • General
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Bill 17, the Labour Statutes and Amendment Act, 2022 (Bill 17) was introduced by the Alberta government on April 21, 2022 and received Royal Assent on May 31, 2022. It amends both the Employment Standards Code, RSA 2000, c E-9 (the ESC) and the Labour Relations Code, RSA 2000, c L-1 (the LRC). The intent of Bill 17 was to offer greater job security to employees.

Main amendments

Effective May 31, 2022, the amendments to sections 53.2(1)(c) and 53.983 of the ESC will allow:

  • Employees who have worked at least 12 consecutive weeks for the same employer to no longer be restricted by a 20-day limit for reservist leave when attending annual reservist training. Instead, they are able to take as much time as needed; and 
  • Employees who have been employed by the same employer for at least 90 days, and who would have been either biological, adoptive or surrogate parents, to take up to three days of unpaid bereavement leave (in a calendar year) when a pregnancy ends other than as a result of a live birth.

Effective July 1, 2022, amendments to sections 58.2 to 58.5 of the LRC will allow academic staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellow associations to continue representing their respective members in collective bargaining indefinitely.

Next steps for Alberta employers

With these legislative changes, employers should review and update their existing workplace policies and procedures, to ensure their compliance, namely with respect to the expansion of reservist and bereavement leaves.

If you would like assistance auditing your workplace policies, or have any other employment and labour related questions, please reach out to your local Dentons Canada contact.  

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Alison Walsh

About Alison Walsh

Alison Walsh is a partner in Dentons Canada LLP’s Employment and Labour group. She provides strategic and practical advice on all areas affecting the employment relationship. Alison assists her clients on sensitive workplace matters including workplace discrimination and harassment complaints, conducts workplace investigations, and provides support to employers conducting internal investigations. In addition, Alison regularly represents employers in all areas of labour and employment litigation, including wrongful dismissal matters, human rights complaints, grievance arbitrations and unfair competition claims.

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Jenny Wang

About Jenny Wang

Jenny Wang (She/Her/Hers) is an associate in Dentons’ Employment and Labour and Intellectual Property and Technology practice groups and she can provide service to clients who speak mandarin (普通话). Based in Edmonton, her developing practice includes advising clients in relation to a broad range of employment and labour matters such as employment litigation (including wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal claims), human rights complaints, and union grievances. Among other matters, Jenny’s intellectual property practice encompasses the trademarks process and any accompanying litigation.

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