Add your voice on provincial licence plates: MLA Hunter

By Trevor Busch
Taber Times
editor@tabertimes.com

The provincial government is moving forward with a new design for provincial licence plates, and Albertans still have time to weigh in.

From now until Nov. 5, Albertans can take part in a tournament-style online vote for a new provincial licence plate design that reflects who we are every time we hit the road.

The new licence plate will be available in late 2026 and will be based on a “Strong and Free” theme, echoing the Latin motto of the province and also intended to serve as a nod to Canada’s national anthem.

“That is our motto. It’s in Latin, but it is our motto. And so I like it – I think it’s great,” said Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter. “I think it certainly encompasses what we are in Alberta. We do consider ourselves strong and free. I think that the wild rose is going to be on there, Wild Rose Country, it’s still going to be on there as well, which is what it was before. I actually don’t mind the fact that we’re going to have it spruced up a bit. I think that ours was pretty boring.”

With options that include famous Alberta landmarks such as the Three Sisters Mountains, and long-standing symbols of our province’s core industries including agriculture and energy production, the potential plates each contain symbols of Alberta’s beauty, history and spirit.

“It’s interesting, because there are people out there like, ‘Yeah, let’s spruce it up a bit’,” said Hunter. “And then there’s people out there who like the traditional.”

In the first phase of voting, Albertans can vote for their favourite of eight unique concepts that incorporate Alberta’s unique landscape and history. Following the first phase, four designs will advance to the next round of voting where the top two will be selected, and subsequently, there will be a final vote for the winning plate concept. The winning new licence plate will be announced during the fall session of the legislature.  

“You can go online and you can vote, and we’ll have a tournament-style vote. People can go and vote and figure out what’s their favourite, and then we can provide that for Albertans. Maybe they’ll say we just wanted the traditional one.”

If an Albertan wants to replace their current plate for the new licence plate once it is released, they can voluntarily pay a $28 fee. Alternatively, Albertans could obtain a new plate on their vehicle registration renewal date at no additional cost. Motorists may also continue using the previous licence plate once the new licence plate is brought onboard, provided it is still in good condition.

• Alberta’s current licence plate was designed in 1984. 

• In 2021, Alberta began a transition from painted to reflective plates with the same design.

• The new designs each incorporate reflective technology to improve readability for law enforcement and automated systems in low-light conditions, and also meet international standards for visibility, legibility and counterfeit resistance.