close up photo of police siren. A peace officer can direct you to pull over in Alberta, Canada.
Can A Peace Officer Pull You Over In Alberta?

A Peace Officer in Alberta is more than one type of officer. It is a term that covers several kinds. While you may have seen vehicles that say ”Peace Officer” on the side, many other officers are considered Peace Officers in the law.

Can a Peace Officer pull you over in Alberta? A Peace Officer can pull you over in Alberta. According to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, a peace officer may signal or direct a driver of a vehicle to stop the vehicle, and request information from the driver of the vehicle and any passengers in the vehicle.

It continues on from there to explain more activities that a Peace Officer may do.

Full Alberta Traffic Safety Act

You will find this section by scrolling all the way down to Section 8: Division 3: ”Peace Officers”.

What is a Peace Officer in Alberta?

The Alberta Traffic Safety Act defines a ”Peace Officer” as a police officer under the Police Act; a member of a police service under the Police Act; an investigator designated under section 2.1; a peace officer appointed under the Peace Officer Act for the purposes of this Act; a park warden appointed under the Parks Canada Agency Act (Canada); a conservation officer appointed under section 1 of Schedule 3.1 to the Government Organization Act; a forest officer appointed under the Forests Act; a wildlife officer appointed under the Wildlife Act.

This is all found under the same act linked to above. It is under the “Interpretation” section.

In Summary

  • Any Alberta Peace Officer can pull you over and request documentation.
  • They may also request information from your passengers.
  • Many types of law enforcement are covered under the definition of Peace Officer in Alberta.

hitchhiking astronaut. It is legal to hitchhike in Alberta, Canada, unless there are municipal bylaws.
Is Hitchhiking Legal in Alberta?

Many people use hitchhiking as a regular mode of travel. Most people only do it in emergency situations. Sometimes you don’t have a choice. But is it legal?

Is hitchhiking legal in Alberta? There is no legislation prohibiting hitchhiking in Alberta. However, individual municipalities may have their own bylaws within city limits. Hitchhiking outside city limits on provincial roads and highways is currently legal in Alberta, though not recommended.

Full Alberta Traffic Safety Act

Edmonton is an example of city where it is explicitly illegal to hitchhike within city limits.

Here is a screenshot of the Edmonton Hitchhiking Bylaw:

Source: Part 4 of Edmonton Bylaw regarding hitchiking.

Check with your local bylaws before making your trip.

In Summary

  • There is no provincial law against hitchhiking in Alberta, Canada.
  • Some municipalities have their own bylaws, making hitchhiking illegal within town or city limits.
  • Edmonton is an example of a city where hitchhiking is illegal.
  • Generally speaking, anywhere that has laws forbidding hitchhiking, has allowable exceptions for emergency situations.
  • While hitchhiking in most areas of Alberta is legal, authorities warn about the dangers of this activity, and strongly advise against it.

woman reading documents while in her car. You can get an alberta drivers abstract from bc or anywhere else outside the province.
Can I get an Alberta Drivers Abstract in B.C.?

You may already know you can get your drivers abstract online or in person quite easily in Alberta. But what happens if you need it, and you are outside of the province?

Can I get an Alberta Drivers Abstract in B.C.? You can get your Alberta drivers abstract in B.C., or from anywhere outside of the province. The steps are slightly different, as it involves notarization, but it can be done.

Follow this link to the official government of Alberta website for instructions an printable forms to get your Alberta Drivers Abstract.

Get your drivers abstract from outside Alberta here

When getting your drivers abstract from outside of Alberta, you have to involve a notary public and have it notarized, then send it in.

Steps to get Drivers Abstract from Outside of Alberta:

  1. Visit the link above and open the Notarized Request Form. Print it off and fill it out. DO NOT sign it yet.
  2. Take the form to a notary public. They need to verify your identity and witness your signature.
  3. Send the document into an Alberta Registry.

After a period of time, you will receive your Alberta Drivers Abstract in the mail.

If you are getting a drivers abstract from inside Alberta, it is much simpler. You can do that at any registry office or get it online.

In Summary

  • You can get an Alberta Drivers Abstract from B.C. or from anywhere outside of the province.
  • The application process is different and involves a notary public.
  • You must have a notarized document and signing witness to verify your identity.
  • After sending the request, you will receive your Alberta Drivers Abstract in the mail.

Woman insurance agent in front of car. Alberta has private auto insurance.
Does Alberta Have Public Auto Insurance?

In Canada, every province can choose to do auto insurance however they want. Some are private industries, and some are publicly funded.

Does Alberta have public auto insurance? Alberta does not have public auto insurance. The auto insurance in Alberta is a purely private industry only.

While the insurance agencies are private and independent, they are overseen by the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB).

Wether a province has public or private insurance, either way, auto insurance is mandatory to drive in Canada.

Every province and territory in Canada technically has access to some form of private insurance. Some are purely private, like Alberta, but some are a hybrid.

A province with a hybrid auto insurance structure generally means there is a certain amount of mandatory coverage from the public system, while you can add extra services privately.

Provinces and Territories Private or Hybrid Auto Insurance Chart

Province/TerritoryPrivate or Hybrid
AlbertaPrivate
Newfoundland/LabradorPrivate
Nova ScotiaPrivate
Prince Edward IslandPrivate
New BrunswickPrivate
OntarioPrivate
YukonPrivate
North West TerritoriesPrivate
Nunavut Private
British ColumbiaHybrid
ManitobaHybrid
Saskatchewan Hybrid
QuebecHybrid

Source

Of the 13 total Canadian Provinces and Territories, 9 of them are purely private. The rest are mostly public with some form of private additions.

In Summary

  • Alberta does not have public auto insurance.
  • The Alberta auto insurance industry is purely private, and overseen by the A.I.R.B.
  • Alberta is 1 of 9 Provinces and Territories that are private.
  • The other 4 Provinces and Territories have public auto insurance or a hybrid.

people running at the beach. Women can not be shirtless in public according to canada’s nudity laws.
Is it Legal for a Woman to be Shirtless in Alberta?

The matter of public nudity is handled at the Federal level in Canada. It is a criminal matter that extends across the country, not just Alberta.

Is it Legal for a Woman to be Shirtless in Alberta, Canada? Nudity in public is currently illegal everywhere in Canada. Section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code makes it illegal to be nude in a public place, or in a private place that can be seen by the the public. There are petitions by activist groups attempting to get the law removed or changed.

Section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code

The law is a bit vague and leaves the door open for interpretation on a few issues.

Some people fighting for a change to the law have argued it is too vague and violates certain rights and freedoms. For instance, the wording might suggest you are a criminal if you are nude in your home and someone can see you in the window.

The issue of women being shirtless, the question we are discussing here, is not cut and dry according to the law. At least not when it comes to enforcement.

By the letter of the law, it would be a crime for a woman to be bare chested in public. It would come down to the environment where it happened, and whether or not someone made a complaint. If the nudity was coupled with other activities that are criminal or a nuisance to the public, there would likely be a complaint by a member of the public, and you would be charged accordingly.

Here is the nudity law from the Canadian Criminal Code:

Nudity

  • 174 (1) Every one who, without lawful excuse,
  • (a) is nude in a public place, or
  • (b) is nude and exposed to public view while on private property, whether or not the property is his own,is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

The second section gives a broad definition of nudity:

Nude

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order.

This is a broad definition of nude as it uses words like ”offend” and ”decency”. It is expected that you use common sense.

If a woman walked shirtless through a crowded mall, or around a public beach, especially where there is children, there would likely be a problem. People would complain, and by the letter of this law, you could face criminal consequences.

In Summary

  • Public nudity is a crime in Canada according to section 174 of the Canadian Criminal Code.
  • Nudity is defined in the law as ”a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order.”
  • While aspects of the law seem vague and broad reaching, common sense plays a role in this issue.
  • There are activist groups with petitions who have been trying to remove this law or have it changed.

two women looking on smartphone. You can record a conversation in alberta, canada under certain circumstances.
Can You Record Someone Without their Consent in Alberta?

The laws regarding the recording of people are handled at the Federal level in Canada. It applies to not only Alberta, but across the country.

Can you record someone without their consent in Alberta? According to section 184 of the Canadian Criminal Code, Canada is a one-party consent country. This means you can record without consent if at least 1 participant of the conversation is consenting. It is illegal to record from a 3rd party perspective if nobody in the conversation gives consent or has knowledge of it, where there is an ”expectation of privacy”.

Section 184 of the Canada Criminal Code

This answer should not replace actual legal advice. You should read through the law yourself to gain an adequate understand of all the circumstances involved.

In a nutshell, it is legal to secretly record a conversation if you are a member of the conversation, or have consent from a member of the conversation. But only if there is not an ”expectation of privacy” in the situation.

If you record a private conversation without consent or implied consent, you could be guilty of a federal crime, and face up to 5 years in prison.

184 (1) Every person who, by means of any electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device, knowingly intercepts a private communication is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Section 184 ”Interception”

The law then goes on to lay out the ”exceptions”. This is the Saving Provision.

There is a bit more to this law than these screenshots, but this is the bulk of it.

In Summary

  • Canada is a one-party consent country.
  • It is legal (in certain circumstances) to record someone’s conversation without their consent if you are a participant of the conversation or have consent from a member of the conversation.
  • Outside of these parameters, it is a federal crime to record a private conversation.

shirtless man hugging pet sloth. You can legally own a sloth in Alberta, Canada.
Can You Own a Sloth in Alberta?

If you want own exotic pets or wildlife in Alberta, you must first check to see they are not controlled. The province of Alberta keeps an ongoing list of controlled species.

Can you own a sloth in Alberta? Sloths are not currently listed as a controlled animal in Alberta. You do not need a permit to own a sloth. However, there may be regulatory bylaws in your municipality.

Source

There are a variety of different types of sloth. None of these are currently listed in the mammals section of the Alberta controlled animals list.

On a related note, there is an animal called a Sloth Bear. This is a bear, and not actually a sloth, it is just a name. The Sloth Bear is listed on the Alberta controlled species list and you can not own one without a permit or special legal permissions.

Owning a pet of any kind can be challenging, especially an exotic pet that is not native to your environment.

Always be sure to research the animal and it’s needs before getting one. Exotic pets can be trendy, which often leads to people getting involved with an animal then realizing they were not adequately prepared. Everyone in the situation, especially the animal, has a negative outcome.

In Summary

  • Sloths are not currently listed as a controlled animal in Alberta.
  • Controlled animals require permits to own. Usually zoos and other animal welfare organizations.
  • Local municipal bylaws may exist in your town or city regulating these exotic animals.
close up photo of person hand feeding a kangaroo bc. You can legally own a wallaby in Alberta, Canada.
Can You Own a Wallaby in Alberta?

Alberta keeps a list of controlled species that require permits to own. Surprisingly, there are quite a few exotic pets that are not listed, and can be legally owned.

Can you own a Wallaby in Alberta? You can legally own a Wallaby in Alberta. They are not listed on the Alberta Controlled Animals List.

Source

Wallabies are similar to the kangaroo, but they’re not the same. Kangaroos are also legal to own in Alberta.

This is a Provincial wide regulation, but municipalities can have their own rules. Double check with your local bylaws for specifics on Wallabies.

Most wildlife and exotic pets are on the controlled list, and therefore require permits and special permissions. Usually this is zoos and other professional animal handling organizations.

It is interesting that some animals that are not native to Alberta, such as wallabies, would not be controlled or regulated.

It is possible that wallabies could be added to the list at some point in the future.

In Summary

  • It is legal to own a Wallaby without a permit in Alberta.
  • Alberta keeps an updated list of controlled species under the Fish and Wildlife Act.
  • The Wallaby is not currently on the controlled animals list.

white and brown eagle in close up. Alberta has 2 types of eagles.
Does Alberta Have Eagles?

Alberta is known for having vast amounts of protected natural areas. Because of this, the province is rich with a diverse population of wildlife.

Does Alberta have Eagles? Alberta is home to 2 types of eagles. The bald eagle and the Golden Eagle. The Golden Eagle migrates South for the winter, whereas the Bald Eagle tends to stay for the winter if there is enough food.

Good read about Eagles in Alberta

Eagles were once on the endangered species list. They have been removed from that list as the population has risen over several decades.

building construction site work outside in heat. Alberta does not have temperature restrictions for workers.
What Temperature Can You Refuse to Work in Alberta?

Every Canadian has the right to refuse unsafe work in the workplace in general. When it comes to temperature specific issues, each provinces handles things a little differently.

What temperature can you refuse to work in Alberta? Alberta does not have specific legal requirements when it comes to workplace temperature. However, employers must still provide a healthy and safe environment including maintaining an adequate indoor temperature and air quality.

This is often called the “general duty clause”, which requires employers to ensure the health and safety and welfare of their employees as much as it is reasonably practicable for the employer to do so.

Employers should adopt good practices and accepted industry standards to fulfill their duties. Part 2 of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code requires employers to also assess and control hazards that workers may be exposed to at the work site.

Alberta Guidelines for Working in the Heat and Cold

There are no temperature restrictions for work in Alberta, but the safety guidelines recommend an indoor temperature of 23-28°C in summer and 20-25°C in winter, when the relative humidity is closer to 30%.

In Summary

  • There are no official temperature restrictions for working in Alberta.
  • Alberta only has a set of guidelines for worker health and safety.
  • Any Alberta worker has the right to refuse unsafe work.