Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Wildlife (Joint Authority) Amendment Regulation · in-force

Wildlife joint authority amendment regulation 2025 381

This Order in Council amends the Wildlife Regulation to revise the compensation scheme for livestock shot under specific circumstances, establishing a compensation committee and detailing application and payment processes.

High impactCentralization of powerThe public, directly

What changed

  • Mandates the Minister to ensure the existence of a compensation committee responsible for determining the amount of shot livestock compensation payable (Section 6(a)).
  • Expands the scope of compensation to include the commercial market value for dead livestock and fees for medical treatment of injured livestock (Section 3(a)).
  • Establishes detailed requirements for compensation applications, including claimant information, livestock description, and actions taken to recover from the responsible party (Section 4, 13.2).
  • Clarifies the role of veterinarians, allowing claimants to hire them for examination and claim associated fees, and permitting the RCMP to hire veterinarians for investigation (Section 3(c), 4).
  • Sets specific compensation amounts, including 100% of commercial market value for most dead livestock, a cap of $2000 for horses, and limits for injured livestock (Section 6(d)).
  • Repeals previous sections related to compensation determination and application processing (Sections 5, 6(b), 7(b)).

Why it matters

  • Centralizes the determination of compensation amounts under a new committee, shifting discretion from previous mechanisms to a formalized body overseen by the Minister.
  • Increases transparency and standardization in the compensation process through explicit application requirements and defined compensation values.
  • Provides clearer financial recourse for livestock owners by specifying what can be claimed (market value, vet fees, medical treatment) and the maximum payable amounts.
  • Formalizes the involvement of veterinarians and the RCMP in the investigation and claims process, potentially enhancing the evidentiary basis for compensation decisions.
  • Reduces the Minister's direct role in considering individual claims after the committee's determination, as per the amendment to Section 16(1).

Other governance concerns

  • Establishment of a new compensation committee under ministerial oversight.
  • Redefinition of compensation eligibility and calculation methods.
  • Increased administrative burden for claimants due to detailed application requirements.
  • Formalization of roles for veterinarians and RCMP in the claims process.

Primary sources (1)