Updates to the Alberta Weed Control Act

The Government of Alberta has recently updated the Weed Control Regulation, which falls under the authority of the Weed Control Act. The most significant update is the revision to the list of regulated plants. Some species have been added, some have changed categories, and others have been removed.

Removal from the regulation does not mean the species is no longer invasive, but it reflects a shift in strategy. The creeping bellflower and the perennial sowthistle have been removed because they have become so widespread that trying to control them through provincial regulation is no longer an effective tool. Instead, management is addressed through education, prevention, and local stewardship. It is still strongly encouraged to manage these plants to prevent them from spreading to neighbouring lands and natural areas.