News & Updates
Bill 17 enacts changes to Alberta's Employment Pension Plans Act
April 14, 2026
On March 26, 2026, Government of Alberta’s Bill 17, the Fiscal Measures Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 (“Bill 17"), received Royal Assent. Bill 17 includes a series of amendments to Alberta’s Employment Pension Plans Act (“EPPA”), including to provide for a statutory discharge of liability for buy-out annuity purchases.
Specifically, amendments to the EPPA in Bill 17 include:
- Providing a statutory discharge from liability for annuities purchased in accordance with the requirements of the EPPA;
- Adding new provisions requiring the purchase of an annuity for defined benefits on plan windup;
- Clarifying that negotiated cost multi-employer plans may amend the plan to reduce accrued benefits in the conversion of a defined benefit provision to a target benefit provision;
- Expanding eligibility rules for collectively bargained multi-employer plans by permitting hours-based participation thresholds, where provided under the plan text; and
- Extending the maximum period of “temporary absence” from employment for pension purposes from 52 to 78 consecutive weeks.
These amendments will come into force on Proclamation.
Click on ‘More information’ below to review Bill 17:
