By Bianca Millions and Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
Posted March 12, 2025 4:51 pm.
Last Updated March 13, 2025 2:23 pm.

New legislation proposed by Alberta’s government would make hunting in a wheelchair legal and permit kids as young as 12 to use guns without adults around.

Hunters would also not have to wear high-visibility clothing, although government officials say that requirement hasn’t been enforced for years.

The new rules are among two dozen changes in a bill introduced by Parks Minister Todd Loewen to modernize hunting laws under the Wildlife Act.

“These amendments are not only about keeping up with the times, they’re about making common sense changes that support both wildlife protection, and the people that depend on these resources,” said loewen. “As hunting and trapping continue to evolve, it’s essential that Alberta’s regulations do as well.”

Hunters currently cannot hunt from a wheelchair because the chairs are legally defined as a vehicle. The bill will change that.

“We’re ensuring that Albertans with disabilities can continue to enjoy this important cultural tradition while using mobility aids,” Loewen said.

He said removing the need for adults to supervise youngsters hunting with guns will bring Alberta in line with federal firearms legislation.

Loewen’s bill would also permit hunters to kill black bears and cougars for meat without having to preserve the hides.

He said removing the need for hunters to keep and process the hides made sense considering the same requirement doesn’t exist for animals commonly hunted for meat, such as deer or moose.

“If we have somebody that wants to hunt (black bears and cougars) just for the meat, then I think they should be allowed to have that opportunity and not be forced to process a hide that they have no desire to keep,” Loewen said.

The bill would also allow hunters to use leashed dogs to track wounded big game animals like deer, and shoot waterfowl from motorized boats as long as the boat isn’t in motion.

“The proposed changes will simplify regulations, preserve fair chase practices, and ensure that our wildlife management practices are both sustainable and adaptable to new challenges and opportunities,” Loewen said.

His legislation would also allow people to transport certain injured animals to a veterinarian or rehabilitation facility without a permit as is currently required, as long as the animal doesn’t pose a threat to the person.

While the changes proposed in bill 41 aim to modernize hunting regulations in the province, there is still concern about another potential change to hunting in Alberta – the legalization of cervid hunt farms, or shoot farms, where hunters would be able to pay to hunt deer or elk raised in an enclosure.

Alberta wildlife federation CEO Kelly Carter, says that legalizing shoot farms would harm both the ethics of hunting and the health of the community.

“We want to keep wild animals wild, and we do support the hunting and harvesting of animals for sustenance and meat,” said Carter. “But with this kind of enclosure, that’s not something we support. Fenced enclosures can create disease in wildlife, and if it gets into our wildlife populations, that can be really critical. And if it ever got across to humans, it would be even worse.”

In an unattributed statement to CityNews, a spokesperson for the ministry of agriculture and irrigation said, in part: “Department staff are currently performing a comprehensive analysis of the issue, considering a broad range of economic, social, and environmental perspectives. To date, they have met with several industry and advocate groups to gather feedback.”

#daniellesmith #smith #alberta #abpol #abpolitics #firetheucp #resistsmith

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Three men are standing in front of a backdrop of Alberta flags and a Canadian flag. The man on the right, wearing a blue checkered blazer and glasses, is speaking at a podium with a microphone. The podium has a blue design with white text. The man on the left is wearing a green shirt and a tie with a nature-themed pattern, and he has a lanyard around his neck. The man in the middle is wearing a plaid shirt and glasses. At the bottom left, there is a label that reads "City News" and "Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks."