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Part of Search public engagements

Civil forfeiture engagement

Key stakeholders shared their views on civil forfeiture in Alberta.

Overview

We gathered feedback from stakeholders to help make civil forfeiture more effective while ensuring due process for property owners.

Civil forfeiture is a legal process that allows Alberta’s government to pursue and forfeit property that is derived from or used to carry out illegal activity. It helps suppress criminal networks and makes Alberta communities safer by forfeiting criminal property such as cash, vehicles and buildings. Civil forfeiture is available whether criminal charges are laid or not.

Since being proclaimed in 2008, Alberta’s Civil Forfeiture Act has helped to take the profit out of crime, support crime prevention initiatives, and provide compensation to victims of crime.

Status

  • Open

  • Results under review

  • Completed

Who is listening

Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Get informed

Learn more about civil forfeiture and current legislation used to target and confiscate criminal property.

Input received

We engaged with stakeholders from November 2024 to February 2025, to explore challenges and opportunities associated with civil forfeiture in the province.

We held virtual and in-person sessions with stakeholders including:

  • lawyers who represent respondents in civil forfeiture proceedings
  • the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada
  • police services
  • civil liberties groups
  • secured creditors such as financial institutions
  • victims of crime advocates
  • the Alberta Property Rights Advocate

Outcomes

Stakeholder feedback will help us develop new tools and procedures to enable the Civil Forfeiture Office of the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services to more effectively pursue criminal property.