On Nov. 8, 2013, the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act (Bill 207) was passed. The Act was originally introduced as a private member’s bill by MLA Len Webber.

The Act established a single agency to co-ordinate organ and tissue donations in Alberta, and created a consent-to-donate registry. Albertans who are willing to donate their organs and/or tissue can do so at their local registry when they go to renew their driver’s license or other identification.

Up until the new Act was proclaimed, consent to donate needed to be provided in writing, dated, signed and witnessed, to be legally binding. Albertans could also complete the “Universal Donor Card” on the back of the government issued Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan card.

Under the new Act, Albertans renewing their driver’s licences or other pieces of identification will be asked if they consent to the donation of their tissue, organs or body. If they do, they will then provide written consent, and the registry agent will transmit that information for inclusion in the online registry. A code or symbol will be printed on the driver’s licence or other identification to indicate consent to donate. Albertans will also be able to register online directly if they have provided consent in other ways.

Alberta used to have 17 donors per one million of the population, but that has fallen over the past decade to less than 10. Ontario and British Columbia both outperformed Alberta with a donor rate of 16.3 donors per million and 11.8 donors per million, respectively, in 2011. Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba have implemented online registries. While donor rates fluctuate, these provinces have successfully raised the public profile of the need to donate.