Alberta premier vows to use legislation to crack down on illegal garbage dumping

Calgary, Alberta - Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith has pledged to introduce legislation later this year to combat illegal garbage dumping. The premier's government will introduce new laws to harshen penalties for those who violate the law. Illegal dumping has become a growing problem, with people leaving their trash on roadways, farms, private property, and public lands.

Smith claims that current penalties are often too lenient, and the new legislation will address this issue. The legislation will enable fines of up to $100,000 for individuals, $1 million for corporations, and, in severe cases, jail terms. In addition, the United Conservatives, Smith's political party, will also strengthen oversight of higher-risk waste transfer and storage facilities.

Operators of these facilities will be required to register with the province. Smith's administration has already received 30,000 complaints related to illegal dumping in Calgary last year, but the city has only issued 165 tickets and three fines.