SAC-Alberta will advocate for equitable access to speech-language pathology and audiology services across all stages of life. This includes engaging with decision-makers to address barriers that limit access and ensuring the essential services our members provide are available to everyone. SAC will also push for expanded public coverage for audiology services for Albertans without insurance, particularly children over six and seniors.
In a significant step toward modernizing provincial communication health services, the Government of Alberta has further integrated the Alberta Provider Directory (APD), which has previously been known as the Provincial Provider Registry (PPR), into the provincial Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. As a key component of the province’s broader $2.3 billion investment into Health Shared Services, as reported by CTV News, this technical milestone aims to unify information technology across all health agencies.
While the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA) is not the system architect, the College fulfills its legislative requirements under the Health Professions Act by providing authoritative registrant data to the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services to populate this directory.
With this change, S-LPs and audiologists are automatically and accurately identified across provincial databases. This is expected to significantly reduce the administrative friction members frequently encounter when submitting program applications such as Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL). By centralizing and verifying provider credentials within the digital health infrastructure, the update eliminates the need for manual verification steps that previously delayed equipment approvals for patients.
*This content was updated with corrections on March 13, 2026.
SAC has achieved a significant advocacy accomplishment in Alberta. Following extensive advocacy efforts and ongoing collaboration with the office of the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, the Government of Alberta has officially declared May as Speech & Hearing Month in perpetuity.
This achievement is the result of SAC’s dedicated work with Minister LaGrange’s office on various advocacy topics.
The Government of Alberta has passed Bill 13, the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, which introduces unprecedented changes to the oversight of regulated professionals, including speech-language pathologists and audiologists. This legislation prioritizes freedom of expression by preventing regulators from disciplining members for off-duty “expressive conduct” that does not involve criminal activity or professional boundary violations. Notably, Bill 13 restricts regulatory bodies from mandating continuing education on social or political topics such as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), unconscious bias, and cultural competency unless the training is directly linked to professional competence. By requiring regulators to maintain a stance of legislated “neutrality” on social and ideological issues, this bill marks a significant shift in the provincial regulatory landscape, and SAC will actively monitor its implementation and potential impacts on member governance.
If you would like to share any thoughts or insights on this issue, please reach out to SAC-Alberta at advocacy@sac-oac.ca.
SAC has reached out to school board trustees across Alberta to highlight the critical role of educational audiologists in supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. In a recent letter, we urged trustees to prioritize access to these specialized professionals to help ensure equitable learning environments.
This outreach aims to raise awareness that educational audiologists are uniquely trained to optimize auditory access, enhance classroom learning, foster student self-advocacy, and reduce listening fatigue. While other professionals, such as speech-language pathologists and teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, play essential roles, educational audiologists bring a unique skill set specifically focused specifically on auditory access and the technology required to support it.
SAC will continue advocating for inclusive education and looks forward to collaborating with school divisions to strengthen support systems for all students.
We encourage SAC-Alberta members to get involved and connect with their newly elected trustees. We have created a template letter so you can send your own letter to make your voice heard on this important issue.
Alberta is responding to rising classroom aggression and increasing numbers of students with complex learning and behavioural needs by appointing a Class Size and Complexity Task Force and acting on the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team’s recommendations. The government plans to publish the action team’s final report, gather annual data on class composition, and begin updating the 2004 Standards for Special Education. The 2025 Budget included $55 million and a three‑year commitment to fund 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 education assistants. School boards may use this funding for in‑class support and assessment, including speech‑language pathology services.
School‑based speech-language pathologists can expect an increase in demand for assessments and in‑class supports as boards triage complex cases and expand supports; this may mean more referrals, faster turnaround expectations, and greater collaboration with newly hired teachers and EAs.
The task force’s data collection and planned Standards update could change eligibility requirements, documentation, and service‑delivery models. This could create opportunities for better-resourced and more integrated supports. It may also lead to short-term workload increases as systems realign, and waitlists are addressed.
Clear communication with employers and school boards about role expectations, caseload triage, and assessment resources will be important during implementation.
Alberta’s evolving approach to healthcare funding, including increased emphasis on private delivery models, has the potential to affect access to public services. For speech-language pathologists and audiologists working in public hospitals, stagnant funding in the public system alongside increasing demand may create growing challenges in meeting patient needs. SAC continues to advocate for strong, sustainable public healthcare systems that ensure services remain accessible to all communities in Alberta.
The Provincial Priorities Act now requires provincial entities, such as municipalities and municipal organizations, to obtain government approval before entering into, amending, extending, or renewing agreements with federal entities. This includes funding or service agreements that impact speech-language pathology and audiology services. Potential implications include:
If your clinic or organization relies on federal funding mechanisms and experiences barriers due to these changes, SAC encourages you to contact our advocacy team at advocacy@sac-oac.ca. Relevant programs include:
