Alberta bill would require campus neutrality and cap tuition

Alberta's United Conservative government has introduced Bill 38, which would require universities and colleges to stay institutionally neutral on political issues and protect freedom of expression. Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall said students, faculty and staff would remain free to voice opinions. The bill follows a court ruling that the University of Lethbridge wrongly cancelled a 2023 lecture by Frances Widdowson. The bill would also cap tuition increases for Canadian students at two per cent in 2027-28 and set minimum standards for student conduct codes. Separately, McDougall said parental income will no longer count when assessing eligibility for student loans.