Proposed Increase to Bison Compensation Caps
Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 28: Regulations Amending the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations
A proposal to raise the maximum government compensation when bison are ordered destroyed: bulls 1 year and older from $4,000 to $10,000, and other bison from $2,500 to $6,000. The change, based on 2009–2019 auction data with an inflation adjustment, was published July 10, 2021 and had a 75-day comment period.
- Published
- July 10, 2021
- Department
- Unavailable
- Section
- REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT
- Comment deadline
- September 23, 2021
- Effective date
- Unavailable
- Publication part
- Part I
Summary
Summary#
This is a proposed change to the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations that would raise the maximum payments the government can give when bison are ordered destroyed because of a reportable disease. The proposal would raise the caps from $4,000 to $10,000 for bulls one year and older, and from $2,500 to $6,000 for other bison. This is a proposal published on July 10, 2021 and not law yet.
What it does#
- Updates the maximum compensation amounts in the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations for two bison categories:
- “Bison (Bison bison) Bull, 1 year and older” — new maximum $10,000 (was $4,000).
- “Bison (Bison bison) All bison other than those referred to in item 9” — new maximum $6,000 (was $2,500).
- Bases the change on auction data from 2009–2019, adds an allowance for future price changes, and uses a statistical approach with a 99% confidence interval to set the caps.
- The document is a proposal. Interested people had 75 days from publication (July 10, 2021) to comment. The regulations would come into force when they are registered.
Who's affected#
- Bison owners and producers across Canada.
- The Canadian Bison Association, whose auction data was used in the analysis, and provincial bison associations.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which evaluates animals and pays compensation when animals are ordered destroyed.
- The CFIA says the change should not have a measurable impact on Canadian small businesses.
Why it matters#
- Higher maximums mean owners could recover more of an animal’s value if the government orders destruction during a disease outbreak. That reduces the financial penalty of reporting sick animals.
- The change is intended to encourage early reporting and cooperation, which helps stop outbreaks faster and protects animal and public health.
- The increase reflects that bison market values have risen since 2007, and the CFIA used recent auction data and a 30% adjustment for future price changes when recommending the new caps.
Key topics
Source: Canada Gazette