The Alberta government is set to enhance 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 cases of harmful conditions for animals. Key indicators of distress include access to adequate shelter and sanitation. The bill also broadens the scope of locations and businesses subject to inspection, now including boarding and grooming facilities.
If approved, the legislation will impose harsher penalties on offenders, raising maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and introducing jail sentences of up to 12 months for serious offenses. Notably, the bill seeks to address cases where individuals have harmed animals in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences for their actions. Leanna Niblock, the executive director of the Alberta SPCA, highlighted that Alberta would be the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other provinces, ensuring that repeat offenders are held accountable regardless of their location.
The proposed measures are aimed at strengthening accountability, deterring animal cruelty, and emphasizing the significance of animal welfare under the law. Recent incidents, such as the case involving two women charged in November 2025 for alleged animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta, underscore the importance of enforcing stricter regulations. Over 300 animals were rescued from In The Woods animal rescue locations in Marie Reine and the Municipal District of Smoky River.