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Part of New and proposed legislation

Protecting animals in Alberta

Proposed legislation changes in Bill 22 will make Alberta a leader in animal protection.

Bill 22, Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2026, was introduced on March 30, 2026.
Ministry responsible: Agriculture and Irrigation 

Overview

The Animal Protection Act, was last updated 2 decades ago. If passed, Bill 22, Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2026, will modernize the act and make Alberta a leader in addressing repeat offences.

Key changes

If passed, Bill 22 will:

  • improve outcomes for animals in distress or at risk of distress
    • Reflect current definitions related to distress, animal care duties and abandonment.
    • Address gaps for responding to animals in distress, including authority to issue and follow up on corrective action orders.
    • Align the Animal Protection Act with other Canadian jurisdictions.
  • improve court orders to protect animals from repeat offences
    • Expand availability of prohibition orders and provide guidance to the court to ensure orders are effective.
    • Create statutory powers to inspect for compliance and address violations.
    • Make Alberta a leader by allowing enforcement of prohibition orders issued in other provinces and territories.
  • modernize inspection authorities
    • Enable inspection of additional activities, including boarding and grooming facilities.
  • increase maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and enable jail time

Next steps

If passed, these amendments will come into force on proclamation. The changes are intended to align with amendments to the Animal Protection Regulation, which is expected to be completed later in 2026.

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