In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across Canada
have put measures in place to slow the spread, but which have also
had a significant impact on business. The purpose of this post is
to provide an overview of the powers available to the Government of
Alberta to respond to the pandemic, and most notably, those
available under the Alberta Emergency Management Act and
Alberta Public Health Act.
Under the Emergency Management Act, a pandemic may
constitute an "emergency" that requires prompt
co‑ordination of action or special regulation of persons or
property to protect the safety, health and welfare of the people of
Alberta. In response to such an emergency, the provincial
government or a local authority, such as a municipality, may
declare a "state of emergency" upon which the provincial
government or applicable local authority has the power to take all
necessary steps to manage the emergency. These steps may include
but are not limited to:
