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Alberta to increase fines, oversight for illegal dumping
Proposed changes would raise individual fines to $100,000, corporate fines to $1 million and allow jail terms of up to six months.
Alberta plans to introduce legislation this fall to increase fines for illegal dumping and crack down on environmental damage caused by debris left on roadsides, farmland, and public lands.
Illegal dumping creates serious problems for communities, as landowners and taxpayers are often left to bear cleanup costs and environmental damage from abandoned garbage and construction debris.
Proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act increase individual fines to $100,000 and corporate fines to $1 million, while courts gain authority to impose jail sentences up to six months.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery said these are the most severe penalties in the country, while Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams noted the measures prioritize respect for property and taxpayers.
Oversight of higher-risk waste facilities will also be strengthened, with registration requirements applying to about 150 of the 684 waste transfer and storage sites in Alberta to ensure better compliance.