The Alberta government is set to enhance its strategies for safeguarding animal welfare by proposing an increase in fines and penalties. The Animal Protection Amendment Act, also known as Bill 22, aims to provide clearer definitions of distress and abandonment, empowering peace officers to take action or rescue animals from harmful situations. Minister of agriculture and irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, highlights that signs of distress will now encompass factors such as access to proper shelter and sanitation. Furthermore, the amendments will broaden the scope of locations and businesses subject to inspection, including boarding and grooming facilities.
If approved, the bill will impose harsher penalties on offenders, raising the maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and introducing the possibility of jail sentences of up to 12 months for serious violations. Additionally, the legislation will target individuals who have committed animal-related offenses in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing repercussions. Leanna Niblock, the executive director of the Alberta SPCA, emphasized that Alberta will become the first province in Canada capable of enforcing prohibition orders from other provinces, enabling peace officers to address repeat offenders regardless of where they commit animal cruelty acts nationwide.
Niblock stressed that escalating fines and introducing jail terms for wrongdoers will enhance accountability, act as a deterrent, and underscore the significance of animal welfare under the law. Notable instances of animal distress include the prosecution of two women in November 2025 following a comprehensive investigation into allegations of animal mistreatment in northwestern Alberta. Over 300 animals were relinquished from In The Woods animal rescue sites in the hamlet of Marie Reine, Alta., and the Municipal District of Smoky River.
