Civil Forfeiture in Canada Canada’s civil forfeiture laws allow provincial governments to seize and transfer ownership of property without compensation when the property is suspected of being used to commit an illegal act or is suspected of having been acquired by committing an illegal act. There are eight provinces in Canada that have civil forfeiture laws on the books. Ontario was the first to enact this sort of legislation in 2001 with Alberta following shortly after in the same year. Other provinces soon enacted similar laws: Manitoba (2004), British Columbia (2005), Saskatchewan (2005), Nova Scotia (2007), Quebec (2007), and New Brunswick (2010). To date, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have not enacted civil forfeiture statutes. DISCLAIMER We believe the information contained in this article to be accurate. It is presented with the understanding that we are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or investment advice. When professional assistance is required, utilize the services of a licensed real estate broker, lawyer, accountant, or other consultant as may be required.
