November 24, 2025
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and Exposed Wildlife Conservancy are asking the Ethics Commissioner to investigate the conduct of Todd Loewen, Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks.
We argue the Minister has a clear Conflict of Interest in his duty, and his decisions in this role have prioritized his personal interests over those of Albertans.
“Alberta’s Ministers have a responsibility to the people of Alberta,” says Ruiping Luo, Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association, “They must not place any personal interests over the public interest. Over the past year, we have repeated seen wildlife management decisions that lacked scientific support and public consultation. We are asking for accountability from our government.”
“Albertans deserve wildlife policy that is grounded in science, transparent in process, and free from private influence,” says Maggie Spizzirri, Executive Director of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, “When decisions ignore evidence, bypass public consultation, and favour a narrow set of groups, both wildlife and public trust suffer. Ethical wildlife management demands accountability. We are speaking up because Albertans deserve nothing less.”
Since taking office, Minister Loewen has made decisions that put Alberta’s wildlife species at risk. This includes expanding cougar hunting quotas and area, allowing members of the public to hunt “problem” grizzly bears, and removing furbearer trapping limits, among other changes.
His decisions favour a small group of hunters, trappers, and outfitters, including extensive promotion to attract international hunters, at the expense of many local hunters and trappers, Indigenous nations, birdwatchers and naturalists, tourism operators, wildlife photographers, biologists, and other Albertans who benefit from these animals.
Minister Loewen has not hidden his connections to the hunters and trappers, particularly international organizations that promote trophy hunts or the hunting of large predators. He was the former owner of Red Willow Outfitters, which is now under the ownership of his wife and son. His actions disregard his responsibilities to Albertans and his commitments under the Conflict of Interests Act.
The Minister has not provided any evidence to justify these changes, nor to justify that they are in the public interest. They were made against the advice of wildlife biologists and the currently available science, and they lacked public consultation.
The full letter to the Ethics Commissioner is available online.
Todd Loewen was sworn in on June 9, 2023 as Minister of Forestry and Parks. At the time, several parties expressed concern for his closeness to the outfitting industry. His disclosure statement to the Ethics Commissioner stated that he received dividends of at least $5,000 from Red Willow Outfitters (previously Todd Loewen Outfitting Ltd.) He has since transferred ownership of this business to his wife and son. He also previously owned a trapline, which he stated he passed to his sons.
Since taking office, he has made numerous changes to hunting and trapping regulations. These changes include:
These changes were made with no public consultation. When evidence to support these changes was requested from the Minister, responses were either absent or failed to answer the questions posed. Thousands of letters sent to oppose these decisions, including an open letter with statements from biologists opposing the changes, have been largely ignored.
Alberta’s Ministers must follow the Conflict of Interests Act, which states, “A Member breaches this Act if the Member takes part in a decision in the course of carrying out the Member’s office or powers knowing that the decision might further a private interest of the Member, a person directly associated with the Member or the Member’s minor or adult child.”
Minister Loewen’s decisions to expand hunting and trapping in Alberta, particularly of predators, are clearly weighted to favour a small group of hunters and trappers. His former business, as well as favoured connections in the hunting and trapping industry, are poised to benefit from these changes. This indicates a clear Conflict of Interest that must be investigated.
For more information, contact:
Ruiping Luo, (403)283-2025, rluo@abwild.ca
Maggie Spizzirri, (250) 814-3840, mspizzirri@exposedwc.org
