The Alberta government is set to enhance animal welfare by increasing fines and penalties through the Animal Protection Amendment Act, known as Bill 22. The proposed amendments aim to provide clearer definitions of distress and abandonment, empowering peace officers to intervene in harmful situations. Key distress indicators include access to adequate shelter and sanitation.
Additionally, the updated legislation will broaden the scope of locations and businesses subject to inspection to include boarding and grooming facilities. If approved, the bill will impose harsher penalties on offenders, raising maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and introducing jail terms of up to 12 months for serious violations.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to address cases where individuals have harmed animals in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences. Leanna Niblock, the executive director of the Alberta SPCA, highlighted that Alberta will be the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other provinces, enabling peace officers to take action against repeat offenders regardless of their location.
Niblock emphasized that the proposed increase in fines and potential jail sentences will enhance accountability, serve as a deterrent, and underscore the importance of animal welfare. Recent instances of animal distress, such as the investigation leading to charges against two women in November 2025 for alleged animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta, underscore the significance of such legislative updates.
More than 300 animals were rescued from In The Woods animal shelter sites in Marie Reine, Alta., and the Municipal District of Smoky River following the investigation.