The Alberta government is set to enhance its animal welfare measures by increasing fines and penalties. The proposed Animal Protection Amendment Act, also known as Bill 22, aims to refine the definitions of distress and abandonment to empower peace officers to intervene in situations of animal harm. Minister of agriculture and irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, highlighted that indicators of distress include factors such as access to adequate shelter and sanitation.
The amendments under Bill 22 will broaden the scope of locations and businesses subject to inspection, now including boarding and grooming facilities. If approved, the bill will impose harsher penalties on offenders, with maximum fines escalating from $20,000 to $250,000 and the introduction of jail terms of up to 12 months for severe violations.
Moreover, the bill seeks to address cases where individuals have harmed animals in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences. Leanna Niblock, executive director of the Alberta SPCA, emphasized that Alberta will be the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other provinces, allowing peace officers to take action against repeat offenders across the country.
Niblock expressed that the increased fines and jail sentences for offenders will enhance accountability, serve as a deterrent, and underscore the importance of animal welfare. Recent incidents of animal distress include the charging of two women in November 2025 following an investigation into allegations of animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta. Over 300 animals were surrendered from In The Woods animal rescue locations in Marie Reine, Alta., and the Municipal District of Smoky River.