Problem Registration Form

The purpose of this Registration Form  is to help the Government of Alberta identify barriers to business and employment in other provinces, and to help Albertans resolve their disputes with the federal, provincial, or territorial governments where they face these barriers. All provinces, territories, and the federal government (with the exception of Nunavut) are signatories to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), and as signatories, they are obligated to abide by its provisions.

If you feel a provincial/territorial/municipal government, academic institution, school board, health authority, or the federal government, has an interprovincial trade barrier that may be contrary to the Agreement on Internal Trade, please contact the appropriate jurisdictions or government entity with which you have encountered a problem, to see if the problem can be resolved independently before initiating this registration process.

If your attempt to resolve the issue with the other party has been unsuccessful, completing this form and submitting it to the Government of Alberta will help you begin a formal complaint process. Once received, your problem will be reviewed and its validity will be assessed. More information may be requested from you following the initial review of your problem.

The information is being collected for the purpose of investigating the problem in accordance with the AIT. The information provided may be disclosed during dispute resolution proceedings, including consultations and negotiations with the government with which there is a problem; and, where necessary, before an administrative panel to seek a ruling on the complaint. Questions about the collection of this information can be directed to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator for International and Intergovernmental Relations by calling 780-427-9658.

Problem Registration Form 

The Alberta government will notify you of its intent to accept or reject initiation of the formal complaint process within 30 days of receiving from you all requested information.

Please note that the formal complaint process may be lengthy.

Your complaint may not be taken forward, if any of the following is evident:

a) the complaint is frivolous or used simply to express anger;
b) the complaint is being submitted just to harass the government entity

    complained against; or,
c) there is no real evidence that the complainant has been wronged.

On the other hand, the Alberta government has been successful in assisting Alberta individuals and companies that submitted legitimate complaints. The overwhelming majority of valid complaints that were submitted to the government of Alberta have been resolved to the benefit of Alberta complainants. See the analysis of resolved disputes involving Alberta entities.

Note: This Problem Registration Form only covers barriers identified by residents of Alberta associated with the federal government, a provincial government other than Alberta or a territory (with the exception of Nunavut). In case of a procurement dispute involving a MASH (municipalities, municipal organizations, school boards and publicly-funded academic, health and social service entities) entity, this form covers MASH entities outside of Alberta, with the exception of Nunavut MASH entities. If you reside in a province or territory other than Alberta, please contact the Internal Trade Representative for your province.