The government of Alberta 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 provide clearer definitions of distress and abandonment, empowering peace officers to intervene in situations of harm to animals. Key indicators of distress include access to proper shelter and sanitation.
Under the amendments, a wider range of establishments, including boarding and grooming facilities, will be subject to inspections. If approved, the bill will enforce harsher penalties, raising maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and introducing potential jail sentences of up to 12 months for serious offenses.
Additionally, the legislation will target individuals who have committed animal offenses in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences. Leanna Niblock, the executive director of the Alberta SPCA, highlighted that Alberta would become the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other regions, enabling peace officers to take action against repeat offenders regardless of their location.
The proposed increase in fines and the possibility of jail time for offenders is expected to enhance accountability and act as a deterrent. Recent incidents of animal distress, such as the case involving two women charged in November 2025 for animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta, underscore the importance of strengthening animal protection laws.
In response to these developments, Niblock emphasized the significance of imposing stricter penalties, emphasizing the importance of upholding the law to protect animals.
