Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Agriculture Financial Services Amendment Regulation · in-force

Agriculture financial services amendment regulation wildlife predator compensation

This Order in Council amends the Agriculture Financial Services Regulation by adding a new Part 4.1, establishing a wildlife predator compensation program for livestock owners, outlining eligibility, investigation procedures, compensation…

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What changed

  • Adds Part 4.1 to the Agriculture Financial Services Regulation, establishing a new wildlife predator compensation program.
  • Defines eligible livestock and specific wildlife predators (wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, eagles) for which compensation may be claimed.
  • Requires claimants to report livestock death or injury to an "appointed officer" within 3 days and apply for compensation to the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
  • Authorizes "appointed officers" to conduct investigations of reported incidents to assist in determining eligibility for compensation.
  • Grants the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation authority to determine the value of dead livestock based on commercial market value and to make final decisions on compensation claims.
  • Specifies compensation amounts: 100% for confirmed deaths, 50% for probable deaths, and limits for medical treatment of injuries.

Why it matters

  • Expands the mandate and decision-making authority of the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation to administer and adjudicate a new compensation program.
  • Centralizes the process for wildlife predator compensation claims under a provincial Crown corporation, standardizing procedures across the province.
  • Establishes a formal mechanism for livestock owners to seek financial compensation for losses due to predation, potentially influencing agricultural risk management.
  • Defines new roles for "appointed officers" in the investigation of predation incidents, formalizing the evidence-gathering process.
  • Introduces a final decision-making authority for compensation claims with the Corporation, as stated in the OIC.

Other governance concerns

  • Finality of the Corporation's compensation decisions without explicit appeal mechanism within the OIC text.
  • Reliance on definitions and roles from the Wildlife Act, which is not provided, potentially affecting clarity for claimants.
  • Discretion granted to the Corporation in determining claim forms, valuation methods, and notification manners.

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (3)