tiger lying on green grass. You can’t legally own a pet tiger in alberta, canada.
Can You Own a Tiger in Alberta?

Most wildlife and exotic animals are heavily restricted in Alberta. The Government of Alberta keeps a list of animals, broken down by species, that are regulated, and Tigers are currently on that list.

The list is animals that you can not privately own at all, or with very special permissions.

Some animals on the list can be owned with special documentation and licensing, but this is usually for zoos and wildlife conservation organizations.

Can I have a pet tiger in Alberta, Canada? No, you can not have a pet tiger in Alberta, Canada. They are listed as a controlled animal.

Review the Alberta controlled animals list here

Controlled “Big Cats” in Alberta

Section 40, under mammals (Family Felidae), you will find that all big cats (genus panthera), are controlled in Alberta. This includes tigers, leopards, jaguars, lions, and snow lions.

In Summary

  • Tigers are a controlled animal in Alberta and require special legal permissions to own. These permissions are typically for zoos and other professional animal welfare organizations.
  • Other big cats, such as leopards, lions, and jaguars are also controlled in Alberta.
  • Most cat-like animals are heavily restricted or regulated in the province of Alberta, outside of typical domesticated house cats.

Driving on the highway. Class 7 learners can drive on the highway legally in Alberta, Canada.
Can a Class 7 Drive on the Highway in Alberta?

The class 7 license is also known as a learners permit in Alberta. Class 7 drivers are learning, and therefore require supervision and have a number of restrictions.

Can a class 7 drive on the highway in Alberta? Yes, a class 7 license holder can drive on the highway in Alberta. A learners permit allows you to drive any class 5 or 6 vehicle on the same roads as a fully licensed driver. However, a class 7 driver must always be accompanied by a fully licensed adult supervisor.

All Class 7 Restrictions

Class 7 drivers are typically new drivers who have completed a written exam and are now ready to learn to drive in the real world.

The best way to get this experience is by driving in all the same ways an experienced driver would. This includes all the roads, parking lots, and highways.

A class 7 learner must always have an adult (18+) supervising. The supervisor must have a class 5 drivers license (not a GDL), and must be seated in the front passenger seat.

There are other limitations on class 7 drivers to be aware of as well, including not driving after midnight.

In Summary

  • Yes, a class 7 driver can drive on highways
  • Class 7 learners are new drivers that should be practicing their driving skills in all scenarios and road types
  • Class 7 drivers must always have fully licensed adult supervision in the front passé seat at all times.

black crocodile lying on ground. You can not legally own a pet alligator or crocodile in Alberta, Canada.
Can I keep a pet crocodile or alligator in Alberta?

Alberta has a list of legally controlled animals. These are all the animals broken down by species and type that are banned from owning casually.
In some cases, you could get a permit or special allowances to own that animal, but this is usually zoos and other professional wildlife agencies.

So what about alligators and crocs? Can I keep a pet crocodile or alligator in Alberta? No, you can not legally own an alligator or crocodile as a pet in Alberta, Canada. Both animals are listed on the Alberta controlled animals list.

Find the Alberta Controlled Animals List here

Here is a screenshot of the relevant section of the Alberta Controlled Animals document:

Section of Alberta Controlled Animals Document that mentions Alligators and crocodiles.

This is under part 3: Reptiles of the controlled animals list.

You can see here that both crocodiles and alligators are restricted. Not just certain types, but all of them. The whole family.

All Alligators and Caimans

(Family Alligatordae)

  • Alligator (genus alligator)
  • Spectacled Caimans (genus caiman)
  • Black Caimans (melanosuchus niger)
  • Smooth-fronted and dwarf caimans (genus paleosuchus)

All Crocodiles

(family crocodylidae)

  • Crocodiles (genus crocodylus)
  • Dwarf Crocodile (osteolaemus tetraspis)
  • Tomistoma: False Gavial (tomistoma schlegeli)

In Summary

  • Alligators and crocodiles are both on the Alberta controlled animals list, which means you can not legally own them as pets.
  • Some controlled animals on the list can be owned with permits.
  • Even if an animal is not on the list, you should still check local municipal laws and bylaws.

police officers inside a police car. It is illegal to drive with an expired driver’s licence in alberta.
What is the penalty for driving with an expired license in Alberta?

In Alberta, your driver’s license expires on your birthday every 1 to 5 years, depending on the class of license you hold. It is unlawful to drive with an expired license in the province of Alberta?

What happens if I drive with an expired license in Alberta? According to Part 3, section 51 of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, driving with an expired Alberta driver’s license is illegal and will result in a fine.

The fine is upwards of $270, depending on the various circumstances of the traffic stop. Such as how long it’s been expired, if you were driving or supervising and so on.

Alberta Traffic Safety Act

Cost of Fines list in Alberta

Will They Tow My Car?

The police have the authority to have your vehicle towed if they deem it necessary. The decision to do this will come down to a number of considerations.

They will consider the length of time your license has been expired. If it was very recently, and there are no other traffic violations involved or history of expired licenses, they may let you go with just the fine.

If the license has been expired for a significant amount of time, you might have a problem. Especially if the stop includes other violations, such as speeding, or if this is not the first time you have been caught with an expired drivers license.

When considering the length of time your license has been expired, it is generally accepted that the cut off is 6 months. In other words, if your license expired less than 6 months ago, it is considered to be recent. Longer than 6 months is too long.

In fact, 6 months is the cut off for how your license is to be renewed. Under 6 months is easier to renew, while more than 6 months is more involved.

Details on how to renew an expired Alberta Driver’s licence

When does my drivers license actually expire?

In Alberta, your driver’s license will expire on your birthday, NOT at the end of your birth month. Unless your birthday is the end of your birth month.

The amount of years your license is valid for depends on the type of license you hold.

More details about license renewal

In Summary

  • Driving with an expired Alberta Driver’s licence is illegal. You will be given a fine of up to $300.
  • More severe cases can lead to a towed vehicle and/or jail time.
  • The longer your license is expired, the harder it is to renew.
  • It is possible to renew your license online.

Hospital beds. Alberta has 177 hospitals in the province.
How Many Hospitals are there in Alberta?

Alberta has a variety of types of medical and patient care facilities. It is important to first be clear on the definition of “hospital” and “Acute Care Facility”, which we will do below.

How many hospitals are there in Alberta? Alberta has 177 total hospitals, of which 106 are considered acute care hospitals.

Source

Difference Between Hospital and Acute Care Facility

The Alberta Health Act defines a hospital as “a facility that provides inpatient services and has been designated as a hospital under the regulations.” The regulations under the Alberta Health Act further define a hospital as “a facility that provides inpatient services and is licensed under the Act.“

The definition of an acute care facility in Alberta is not specifically defined in legislation or regulations, but is generally understood to refer to a type of hospital that provides short-term, intensive treatment for medical conditions that require immediate attention.

More AHS Facility and Bed Statistics

In Summary

  • Alberta has 177 Total Hospitals
  • 106 are considered “Acute Care Facilities”

No parking sign. Details on what happens when you don’t pay a parking ticket in Alberta, Canada.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay a Parking Ticket in Alberta?

We are not going to lecture you on the importance of paying parking tickets. Let’s just stick to the facts.

On the matter of the consequences of parking ticket delinquency, the answer depends on who is issuing the ticket.

What happens if you don’t pay a parking ticket in Alberta? If you don’t pay a parking ticket from a non-private entity, you can face collections, legal action or wage garnishments. If it is from a private parking agency, it is not treated as a fine, and therefore, there are no legal consequences. However, the private lot can ban you from using their services in the future.

Parking Tickets Issued by a Public/Government Body

If the parking ticket was issued by a government entity, such as provincial or municipal, it would be treated as a fine.

An example of this might be a parking violation ticket issued by the Calgary Parking Authority.

How Fines are treated in Alberta from Alberta.ca

Summary of how fines are treated

If your parking ticket is issued by a government entity in Alberta, these facts will apply:

  • Paying late will lead to late charges.
  • You must pay all fines, including parking tickets, before you are able to renew your vehicle registration.
  • Failure to pay fines can lead to collections and legal judgements. This can lead to wage garnishment and credit rating damage.

Parking Tickets Issued by a Private Entity

If the parking violation occurred in a private lot ran by a private company, the rules are different.

While they could technically attempt legal action, most of the time, it does not justify the legal fees for them to do this.

Parking tickets issued by private companies are not considered fines, so they are not backed by any laws or bylaws. These companies are legally vulnerable when it comes to parking violation collection issues.

The information in this article does not replace sound legal advice from a competent lawyer or other expert in law.

In Summary

  • Parking tickets issued by the government are treated differently than tickets issued by private parking companies.
  • Government issued parking violations are considered fines, and are treated as such.
  • Privately issued parking violations are not considered fines, and are not backed up by laws or bylaws.
  • Fines must be paid to avoid financial and legal consequences.

A woman on computer. You can renew your vehicle registration online in alberta.
Can You Renew Your Registration Online in Alberta?

When life gets busy, it can be easy to forget your annual vehicle registration. Especially since Alberta registries stopped using the license plate stickers.

What happens if you suddenly realize your mistake and it is due very soon or past due?

Can you renew your registration online? Yes, there is an option to renew your Alberta registration online. However, you must first have a myalberta digital ID. If you already have this, you can follow the steps to renew.

Renew Alberta Vehicle Registration Online here.

If you don’t already have a MyAlberta Digital ID, you will have to get one first. It’s free to do, but it can take up to 10 days to complete the process. If you need to register your vehicle sooner than that, then this will not be a viable option for you.

In this case, you will have no other choice than to go to an Alberta registry office in person.

More information about the MyAlberta Digital ID here.

Other Factors for Renewing Alberta Vehicle Registration Online

In addition to having your MyAlberta Digital ID, you can only register online if:

  • You do not have outstanding fines to pay (can also be paid online beforehand. This is a separate online process)
  • You are renewing an existing registration. (You can not set up a new registration online)
  • There are no changes such as addresses, vehicle change etc.

Basically, if you already have your MyAlberta Digital ID, you have no tickets/fines to pay, and everything is identical to last year, you can visit the link above and get it done.

In Summary

  • You can renew your Alberta Vehicle Registration online, but only if you have a myalberta digital ID, there are no outstanding fees/tickets/fines, and there are no changes being made
  • Getting a digital ID can take up to 10 days (see our article about the MyAlberta Digital ID)
  • Other options include by mail, or in person at any Alberta Registry Office

A man smoking. Marijuana use is legal in Alberta since the passing of the Canadian Cannabis Act.
Is It Legal to Use Marijuana in Alberta, Canada?

The rules and laws about cannabis use in Canada are largely determined at the Federal level. However, individual provinces and territories have some say on the specifics of how the issue is handled.

Is Marijuana legal in Alberta, Canada? With the Cannabis Act, Marijuana has been legal in Alberta and everywhere in Canada, since October 17, 2018. This includes both recreational and medicinal use.

The Canadian Cannabis Act legalized and created regulations for the possession, use and sale of cannabis products. This brought it from the illegal underground world to a legal, commercial, but regulated world.

Medicinal use of marijuana was already allowed in Canada under certain circumstances, but this opened the door to a wider recreational audience.

Marijuana Restrictions in Alberta

While the Cannabis Act is a Federal law that applies across Canada, there are certain nuances that are managed provincially.

One example of this is that you must be 18 years old to possess or use marijuana in Alberta. Other provinces and territories have set that limit to 19 years old.

Provincial and Territorial Jurisdiction

Provinces and territories have jurisdiction over:

  • how cannabis is sold
  • where stores may be located
  • how stores must be operated
  • who can legally sell cannabis
  • possession limits
  • minimum age
  • where cannabis may be used in public
  • setting added requirements on personal cultivation

Source

Alberta Marijuana Regulations and Restrictions

In Alberta, cannabis is legal within the following parameters:

  • Age restriction: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase, possess or consume cannabis. Children are not allowed to enter cannabis retailer shops, even if accompanied by an adult.
  • Possession limit: Adults are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis in public.
  • Purchase limit: You can purchase up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent from a licensed retailer.
  • Cultivation limit: You are allowed to cultivate up to 4 plants per household for personal use.
  • Use restrictions: Cannabis use is prohibited in public places, including parks, schools and other places where children gather.
  • Driving restrictions: It is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis.
  • Advertising restrictions: Cannabis products cannot be advertised to minors or in a manner that promotes excessive use.
  • Packaging and labeling requirements: All cannabis products must be properly packaged and labeled with health warnings and product information.
  • Export/Import restrictions: It is illegal to export cannabis outside of Canada or to import it into the country without a government-issued permit.
  • Workplace restrictions: Employers may have their own policies regarding cannabis use in the workplace and drug testing policies.

Where Can You Buy Marijuana in Alberta?

Cannabis products must be sold by authorized retailers. This is regulated through the AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis). You can easily search for a licensed dealer near you here.

In Summary

  • Marijuana use is legal across Canada as of the the Cannabis Act of 2018.
  • Provinces and Territories have some say in how to manage certain aspects of the law.
  • You must be 18 years of age to buy or possess cannabis in the province of Alberta, while other provinces and territories are 19.
  • The Cannabis Act legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes

wolf spiders are commonly found in Alberta
Are There Wolf Spiders in Alberta?

Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae) are found in many parts of the world. In general, they can be found on most continents except for Antarctica, and you are unlikely to find them on Oceanic Islands.

Are there Wolf Spiders in Alberta? Yes, there are Wolf Spiders in Alberta. They are found throughout the province, but mostly in grassy or woodland regions.

They are called “Wolf Spiders” because of the way they actively hunt for their prey, rather than spin webs to catch food like other types of spiders.

Source

Are Wolf Spiders Dangerous?

Wolf Spiders are generally not aggressive and are considered harmless to humans. They can bite, and they do have venom, but it’s rare and the venom is not typically a health threat for people.

In Summary

  • There are wolf spiders in Alberta. They are commonly found on almost every continent of earth.
  • They prefer grassy areas or the woods.
  • They are called wolf spiders due to the way the hunt rather than spin webs.
  • They are considered harmless to people.

There are wild turkeys in alberta
Are there Wild Turkeys in Alberta?

So you might be wondering if you can find wild turkeys in Alberta. The answer is yes! These birds are actually native to North America and can be found in a variety of habitats throughout the province, especially in the south and central regions.

They almost became extinct in the 1900s because of habitat loss and overhunting. Fortunately, people started working to save them and now they’re doing better than ever.

You might have seen pictures of wild turkeys before – they’re pretty big and have some pretty cool feathers. Males have iridescent feathers and a big, fan-shaped tail, while females are more drab but still pretty interesting.

If you’re hoping to spot some wild turkeys on your visit to Alberta, there are a few places you might want to check out.

Provincial parks and nature reserves like Writing-on-Stone, Elk Island National Park, and Kananaskis Country are all good options. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you might even find some wild turkeys on private land or in rural areas.

Just remember, these are wild animals, so it’s important to keep your distance and not approach or feed them. With a little bit of luck, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of these impressive birds during your visit to Alberta. Happy turkey-spotting!