SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (RSA 2000 cS-4.7)

RSA 2000 cS-4.7

Alberta — Consolidated Statutes

© Published by Alberta King’s Printer Alberta King’s Printer Suite 700, Park Plaza 10611 - 98 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 Phone: 780-427-4952 E-mail: kings-printer@gov.ab.ca Shop on-line at kings-printer.alberta.ca Province of Alberta Office Consolidation Statutes of Alberta, 2008

Chapter S-4.7 Current as of June 11, 2025 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT

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Note All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Regulations The following is a list of the regulations made under the Security Services and Investigators Act that are filed as Alberta Regulations under the Regulations Act. Alta. Reg.

Amendments Security Services and Investigators Act Security Services and Investigators ................ 52/2010 ........... 45/2015, 154/2015, 6/2023, 142/2025 Security Services and Investigators (Ministerial) ............................................. 55/2010 ........... 73/2015, 56/2019, 21/2023

1 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT

Chapter S-4.7 Table of Contents 1

Definitions

Part 1 Licensed Activities 2 Investigators 3 Security services 4 Guard dog handlers 5 Locksmiths and by-pass tools 6 Loss prevention workers 7 Security alarm responders 8 Business licences 9 Offence

Part 2 Exemptions from Licensing Requirements 1 0 Exemptions from licensing 1 1 Exemption from licensing by the Registrar

Part 3 Licence Applications, Renewals, Suspensions and Cancellations 1 2 Designation of Registrar 1 3 Registrar’s functions 14 Individual licence 15 Business licence 16 Refusal of licence application 17 Licence not transferable 1 8 Individual licensee obligations 19 Business licensee obligations 20 Suspension or cancellation of licence 2 1 Return of licence

Chapter S-4.7 2 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT 2 2 Registrar’s decision 2 3 Review by Director

Part 4 Complaints and Discipline 2 4 Complaints about individual licensees 25 Investigation and dis position of complaints 2 6 Review by Registrar 27 Review by Director 2 8 Complaints about a business licensee 29 Review by Director

Part 5 Inspections 3 0 Inspection and investigation

Part 6 Display of Licence, Records, Annual Returns 3 1 Display of licence 3 2 Records

Part 7 General 3 4 Uniforms and weapons 35 Peace officers 3 6 Collection agency or collector of debts 37 Prohibition 3 8 Unlicensed employees 3 9 Identification 40 Prohibited titles 41 Prohibited terminology 42 Proof of being licensed 43 Reciprocal agreements

Part 8 Offences and Penalties 44, 45 Offences 46 Penalties

Part 9 Regulations 47 Lieutenant Governor in Council regulations

Section 1

Chapter S-4.7 3 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT 48 Ministerial regulations

Part 10 Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeal and Coming into Force 49 L i c e n c e s 50 Complaints and appeals 51 Actions barred 52 Repeal 53 Coming into force HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “applicant” means a person who applies to the Registrar for a licence or for the renewal of a licence; (b) “business” means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, society or not-for-profit organization; (c) “business licensee” means a business to whom a business licence is issued under this Act or the regulations; (d) “Court” means the Court of King’s Bench; (e) “Director” means the Di rector of Law Enforcement appointed under

section 8 of the Police Act or a person designated by the Director to act on his or her behalf; (f) “individual licensee” means an individual to whom an individual licence is issued under this Act or the regulations; (g) “licence” means a business lic ence or an individual licence issued under this Act or the regulations; (h) “licensee” means a busine ss licensee or an individual licensee; (i) “Minister” means the Minist er determined under

section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act;

Section 2

Chapter S-4.7 4 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (j) “Registrar” means an individual designated as Registrar, o r any other individual designated to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Registrar, under

section 12; (k) “security or investigativ e work” means any activity for which a licence is required under this Act or the regulations. 2008 cS-4.7 s1;AR 217/2022

Part 1 Licensed Activities Investigators 2(1) No person may, without a licence to do so, for remuneration, investigate, conduct surveillance activities or seek or obtain information about (

a) crimes, offences, contraventions of enactments or misconduct, or allegations of crimes, offences, contraventions of enactments or misconduct, (

b) the cause of an accident, incident, property damage, personal injury or damage to premises, (

c) the activity, conduct, character or reputation of a person , (

d) the location of property, or (

e) the whereabouts of a person.

(2) No person may advertise, hold out or offer to provide a service or perform an activity described in subsection (1) unless the person has a licence to provide the service or perform the activity. Security services 3(1) No person may, without a licence to do so, for remuneration, (

a) patrol, guard or provide security for another person or fo r the property or premises of another person, or (

b) detect loss of or damage t o the property or premises of another person.

(2) No person may advertise, hold out or offer to provide a service or perform an activity described in subsection (1) unless the person has a licence to provide the service or perform the activity. Guard dog handlers 4(1) No person may, without a licence to do so, for remuneration,

Section 5

Chapter S-4.7 5 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

a) engage in the activity of training, handling or controllin g a dog for the purpose of providing security to a person, property or premises, or (

b) supply a dog to provide security for a person, property or premises.

(2) No person may advertise, hold out or offer to provide a service described in subsection (1) unless the person has a licence to provide the service. Locksmiths and by-pass tools 5(1) No person may, without a licence to do so, (

a) possess or operate tools designed to operate the switches or locks of a motor vehicle, (

b) possess locksmith tools, (

c) for remuneration, make, ins tall, maintain, repair, code, recode, rekey or repin locking devices, (

d) design or maintai n master key systems, (

e) maintain key code records, or (

f) cut, make or sell keys or other lock-operating devices tha t (

i) are stamped or marked to prohibit or restrict duplication or copying, including, without limitation, keys marked “Master”, “Do not copy”, “Do not duplicate” or “Restricted”, or (ii) can be duplicat ed or copied or coded only by equipment unique to that type of key or lock-operating device.

(2) No person may advertise, hold out or offer to provide a service or to perform an activity described in subsection (1) unless the person has a licence to provide the service or to perform the activity. Loss prevention workers 6(1) No person may, without a licence to do so, for remuneration, in plain clothes, (

a) prevent loss of or damage to the commercial, industrial or retail property or premises of another person, or

Section 7

Chapter S-4.7 6 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

b) detect loss of or damage to the commercial, industrial or retail property or premises of another person.

(2) No person may advertise, hold out or offer to provide a service or to perform an activity described in subsection (1) unless the person has a licence to provide the service or to perform the activity. Security alarm responders 7 No person whose primary role is to perform security or investigative work may, without a licence to do so, for remuneration, respond in person to the location of a security alarm.

Business licences 8 No person may, without a business licence to do so, engage in the business of providing individual licensees, or employ or engage an individual licensee, to do or to provide security or investigative work. Offence 9 A person who engages in security or investigative work without a licence in contravention of

section 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 is guilty of an offence.

Part 2 Exemptions from Licensing Requirements Exemptions from licensing 10 The following persons and classes of persons are exempt from the requirement to be licensed under this Act and the regulations: (

a) members of the Royal Cana dian Mounted Police, members of a police service as defined in the Police Act, and peace officers while acting within the scope of their authority and in the course of their employment or designation; (

b) barristers and solicitors ac ting within the scope of their profession; (

c) insurance adjustment agenci es, insurance companies and the Fire Underwriters’ Investigation Bureau of Canada Incorporated while engaged in the normal scope of their business, and their employees or agents while acting within the scope of their employment;

Section 10

Chapter S-4.7 7 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

d) a person who obtains or provides information about the financial rating, credit rating or financial standing of another person while engaged within the scope of that activity; (

e) a person engaged in a business who (

i) engages an individual licensee employed on contract by a business licensee to provide security or investigative work, and (ii) does not employ an individual licensee to perform that security or investigative work; (

f) a person whose primary business is to provide an armoured vehicle service to transport property; (

g) volunteer security guards when no remuneration is provided to the volunteer or to the volunteer organization of which the volunteer security guards are members, unless the volunteer organization competes for a tender for a contract to perform security work; (

h) a person who is employed or engaged for services only to provide advice to another person about that other person’s security requirements; (

i) persons who obtain or provide information about (

i) the qualifications and suitability of an applicant for insurance or an indemnity bond, or (ii) the qualifications and s uitability of a prospective employee while obtaining or providing that information; (

j) a person licensed under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act or an employee of such a person, while carrying out duties and functions under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act; (

k) a person licensed under the Safety Codes Act or an employee of such a person, while carrying out duties and functions under the Safety Codes Act; (

l) a person who is employed or engaged by the Crown or an agent of the Crown to perform security or investigative work, while acting within the scope of that employment or engagement;

Section 11

Chapter S-4.7 8 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

m) except with respect to th e activities described in

section 4 or 5, an employer and a person who is employed or engaged to perform security or investigative work solely with respect to employees or contractors of the employer, while acting within the scope of that employment or engagement; (

n) a person engaged in an in vestigative capacity under an enactment governing a profession or occupation; (

o) an officer of the Legislature, including the Auditor Gener al, the Ombudsman, the Chief Electoral Officer, the Ethics Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Child and Youth Advocate and the Public Interest Commissioner, while acting within the scope of that person’s office and any person employed or engaged in any of those offices while acting within the scope of that employment or engagement capacity; (

p) any person designated or des cribed in the regulations or any person engaged to perform any security or investigative work described in the regulations. 2008 cS-4.7 s10;2011 cC-11.5 s36;2012 cP-39.5 s62; 2017 c21 s29;2017 c29 s114;2019 c15 s40 Exemption from licensing by the Registrar 11(1) The Registrar may exempt a person from holding a licence if the person (

a) resides in a jurisdiction ou tside Alberta and is employed or engaged for services in good faith in that jurisdiction by or on behalf of an employer or client who resides outside Alberta, to carry out an investigation or inquiry partly outside Alberta and partly in Alberta, (

b) wishes to carry out a temporary investigation or inquiry i n Alberta solely for the purpose of an investigation or inquiry described in clause (a), (

c) notifies the Registrar of his or her intended presence in Alberta and provides the Registrar with particulars of the work he or she proposes to undertake, and (

d) applies for an exemption in the form and manner required by the Registrar.

(2) An exemption under subsection (1) may be granted for any period of time or for any purpose the Registrar considers appropriate.

Section 12

Chapter S-4.7 9 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT

Part 3 Licence Applications, Renewals, Suspensions and Cancellations Designation of Registrar 12 The Minister may designate an individual as Registrar and may designate any other individuals to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Registrar. Registrar’s functions 13(1) The Registrar may, in accordance with this Act and the regulations, (

a) issue or renew a licence in respect of any matter for which a licence is required under this Act or the regulations, (

b) prescribe any terms a nd conditions of a licence, (

c) specify the term of a licence, and (

d) exercise any other power and perform any other duty or function conferred or imposed by this Act or the regulations.

(2) The terms and conditions of a licence and the term of a licence may vary depending on the applicant, the security or investigative work for which the licence is issued, or both. Individual licence 14 An individual who requires a licence to engage in security or investigative work or to advertise, hold out or offer to provide the services or activities described under

Part 1, or who requires a renewal of such a licence, must (

a) meet the requirements for being issued an individual licen ce or the requirements for the renewal of the individual licence as specified in the regulations, (

b) apply to the Registrar in a form and manner acceptable to the Registrar, (

c) pay the prescribed fee, (

d) provide any information requested by the Registrar for the purpose of determining the individual’s eligibility for an individual licence or the renewal of the individual licence, and

Section 15

Chapter S-4.7 10 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

e) provide any other information prescribed by the regulation s, which may include personal information as defined in the Protection of Privacy Act. 2008 cS-4.7 s14;AR 141/2025 Business licence 15 A person that requires a business licence or a renewal of a business licence must (

a) meet the requirements for be ing issued a business licence or the requirements for the renewal of the business licence as specified in the regulations, (

b) apply to the Registrar in a form and manner acceptable to the Registrar, (

c) pay the prescribed fee, (

d) provide any information requested by the Registrar for the purposes of determining the person’s eligibility for a business licence or the renewal of the business licence, (

e) provide any other information prescribed by the regulation s, which may include personal employee information as defined in the Personal Information Protection Act, and (

f) provide evidence that the business has and will maintain liability insurance as prescribed by the regulations. Refusal of licence application 16(1) The Registrar may refuse to issue a licence or refuse to renew a licence if the Registrar is satisfied that the applicant (

a) has contravened or is c ontravening this Act or the regulations, (

b) has not met the requirements of this Act or the regulation s, (

c) has provided false or misleading information in the application for a licence or renewal of a licence or in any report or information required to be provided under this Act or the regulations, (

d) in the case of an applica tion for renewal of a licence, (

i) has not complied with the terms or conditions of a licence, or

Section 17

Chapter S-4.7 11 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (ii) has not provided a report o r information required by this Act, the regulations or the Registrar, (

e) in the opinion of the Regis trar, is not a fit and proper person to be issued or to continue to hold a licence, or (

f) has been charged with a criminal offence.

(2) If the Registrar, on reasonable grounds, believes that it is not in the public interest to issue or renew a licence, the Registrar may refuse to do so.

(3) For the purpose of determining whether to issue or renew a licence, the Registrar may collect personal information as defined in the Protection of Privacy Act or personal employee information as defined in the Personal Information Protection Act from the applicant or, if the applicant’s employer is a business licensee, from the applicant’s employer. 2008 cS-4.7 s16;AR 141/2025 Licence not transferable 17 A licence issued under this Act or the regulations is not transferable. Individual licensee obligations 18 An individual licensee must, in accordance with the regulations, report in writing to the Registrar (

a) a change of address, (

b) a change in any information provided to the Registrar when the application for the individual licence or the renewal of the individual licence was made, and (

c) any other information pres cribed by the regulations or requested by the Registrar. Business licensee obligations 19 A business licensee must, in accordance with the regulations, report in writing to the Registrar (

a) a change of address of the principal office for the busine ss, (

b) a change in any information provided to the Registrar when the application for the business licence or the renewal of the business licence was made,

Section 20

Chapter S-4.7 12 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

c) the names of the individual licensees employed or engaged for services by the business licensee, (

d) the use of a weapon by an individual licensee employed or engaged for services by the business licensee in the course of the individual licensee’s duties, (

e) any allegation that an individual licensee employed or engaged for services by the business licensee has committed a criminal offence, (

f) a criminal charge or any con viction of a criminal offence against the business licensee or an employee of the business licensee, (

g) any incident allegedly involving a breach by a licensee of the code of conduct established pursuant to the regulations, (

h) any incident involving serious injury to or the death of a n individual licensee employed or engaged for services by the business licensee, (

i) any incident involving serious injury to or the death of another person alleged to have resulted from the actions of an individual licensee employed or engaged for services by the business licensee, or (

j) any other information prescribed by the regulations or requested by the Registrar. Suspension or cancellation of licence 20 The Registrar may suspend or cancel the licence of an individual licensee or a business licensee if (

a) the licensee is convict ed of a criminal offence, (

b) the licensee is convicted o f an offence under this Act or the regulations, (

c) the licensee fails to compl y with a term or condition of the licensee’s licence, (

d) the licensee fails to comply with the code of conduct established pursuant to the regulations for that class of licensees, (

e) the licensee makes an unt rue statement or misleading statement

Section 21

Chapter S-4.7 13 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

i) in the licensee’s applica tion for a licence or renewal of a licence, or (ii) in a report made or information provided to the Registrar, (

f) the licensee fails or refuses to make a return or to provi de to the Registrar any information required under this Act or the regulations, (

g) in the opinion of the Regis trar, the licensee is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence, or (

h) in the opinion of the Reg istrar, it is in the public interest to suspend or cancel the licence. Return of licence 21 If the Registrar suspends or cancels a licence, the licensee must return the licence to the Registrar forthwith. Registrar’s decision 22(1) If the Registrar refuses to issue or renew a licence under

section 16, the Registrar must inform the applicant in writing of the decision, with reasons.

(2) The Registrar must inform the licensee in writing of the decision, with reasons, when the Registrar (

a) suspends or cancels a licen ce under

section 20, 26, 28 or 30, or (

b) varies the terms and cond itions of a licence under

section 26, 28 or 30. Review by Director 23(1) Within 30 days from the date that the applicant or licensee is advised in writing of the Registrar’s decision under

section 22, the applicant or licensee may, in writing, request the Director to review the Registrar’s decision.

(2) The Director may, in the course of reviewing the Registrar’s decision, engage in or refer the matter to mediation in an attempt to resolve the issues.

(3) The Director must, within 30 days of receiving a request under subsection (1), inform the applicant or licensee in writing of the

Section 24

Chapter S-4.7 14 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Director’s decision confirming, reversing or varying the Registrar’s decision.

(4) The Director may direct the Registrar to issue, suspend or cancel the licence or to impose additional terms and conditions on the licence, and the decision of the Director is final.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the Director may, on notice to the applicant or licensee, extend the time referred to in subsection (3) if additional time is required to review the Registrar’s decision.

(6) No action lies against a person who conducts a mediation in good faith under this

section for any act done or omitted to be done with respect to the mediation.

Part 4 Complaints and Discipline Complaints about individual licensees 24 Any person may make a complaint in writing about an individual licensee to the individual licensee’s employer within 90 days after the action or circumstance giving rise to the complaint occurs. Investigation and disposition of complaints 25(1) Subject to subsection (2), where a complaint is made under

section 24, the employer must investigate and dispose of the complaint in accordance with the procedures set out in this Act and the regulations.

(2) An employer may refuse to investigate or may discontinue the investigation of a complaint if, in the opinion of the employer, (

a) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith , or (

b) having regard to all of the circumstances, no investigation is necessary.

(3) If the employer refuses to investigate a complaint or discontinues the investigation of a complaint under subsection (2), the employer must notify the complainant of the refusal or discontinuance in writing, with reasons, within 90 days of receiving the complaint.

(4) The employer must, within 90 days of receiving a complaint, notify the complainant, the individual licensee who is the subject of the complaint and the Registrar in writing of

Section 26

Chapter S-4.7 15 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

a) the employer’s disposition of the complaint and the reason s for the disposition, and (

b) the right of the compla inant to have the employer’s disposition of the complaint reviewed by the Registrar. Review by Registrar 26(1) Within 30 days of receiving notice of the employer’s disposition of the complaint under

section 25, the complainant may, in writing, request the Registrar to review the employer’s disposition.

(2) If the employer has not completed the investigation of the complaint in accordance with

section 25, the complainant may, in writing, request the Registrar to review the complaint.

(3) The Registrar must conduct a review of the employer’s disposition if the Registrar receives a request from a complainant under subsection (1) or investigate the complaint if the Registrar receives a request from a complainant under subsection (2).

(4) The Registrar may refuse to investigate or may discontinue the investigation of a complaint if, in the opinion of the Registrar, (

a) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith , or (

b) having regard to all of the circumstances, no investigation is necessary.

(5) If the Registrar refuses to investigate a complaint or discontinues the investigation of a complaint under subsection (4), the Registrar must notify the complainant of the refusal or discontinuance in writing, with reasons, within 90 days of receiving the complaint.

(6) After completing an investigation of the complaint or a review of the employer’s disposition of a complaint, the Registrar may vary the terms and conditions of or cancel or suspend the individual licensee’s licence or the employer’s business licence.

(7) The Registrar must, in writing, notify the complainant, the individual licensee who is the subject of the complaint and the individual licensee’s employer of the Registrar’s decision and the reasons for the decision.

Section 27

Chapter S-4.7 16 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Review by Director 27(1) Within 30 days from the date that the complainant is notified in writing of the Registrar’s decision under

section 26, the complainant may, in writing, request the Director to review the Registrar’s decision.

(2) The Director must, within 30 days of receiving a request under subsection (1), inform the complainant in writing of the Director’s decision confirming, reversing or varying the Registrar’s decision.

(3) The Director may direct the Registrar to suspend or cancel the individual licensee’s licence or to impose additional terms and conditions on the individual licensee’s licence, and the decision of the Director is final.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Director may, on notice to the complainant, extend the time referred to in subsection (2) if additional time is required to review the Registrar’s decision. Complaints about a business licensee 28(1) Any person may make a complaint in writing about a business licensee to the Registrar within 90 days after the action or circumstance giving rise to the complaint occurs.

(2) The Registrar may refuse to investigate or may discontinue the investigation of a complaint if, in the opinion of the Registrar, (

a) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith , or (

b) having regard to all of the circumstances, no investigation is necessary.

(3) If the Registrar refuses to investigate a complaint or discontinues the investigation of a complaint under subsection (2), the Registrar must notify the complainant of the refusal or discontinuance in writing, with reasons, within 90 days of receiving the complaint.

(4) After completing an investigation, the Registrar may vary the terms and conditions of the business licensee’s licence or cancel or suspend the business licensee’s licence.

(5) The Registrar must, in writing, notify the complainant and the business licensee who is the subject of the complaint of the Registrar’s disposition of the complaint and the reasons for the disposition.

Section 29

Chapter S-4.7 17 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Review by Director 29(1) Within 30 days from the date that the complainant is notified in writing of the Registrar’s decision under

section 28, the complainant may, in writing, request the Director to review the Registrar’s decision.

(2) The Director must, within 30 days of receiving a request under subsection (1), inform the complainant in writing of the Director’s decision confirming, reversing or varying the Registrar’s decision.

(3) The Director may direct the Registrar to suspend or cancel the business licensee’s licence or to impose additional terms and conditions on the business licensee’s licence, and the decision of the Director is final.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Director may, on notice to the complainant, extend the time referred to in subsection (2) if additional time is required to review the Registrar’s decision.

Part 5 Inspections Inspection and investigation 30(1) The Registrar may enter a business licensee’s premises for the purposes of conducting an investigation under this Act or to inspect the premises and the records of the business licensee to ensure compliance with this Act, the regulations and the terms and conditions of the business licence.

(2) An inspection under subsection (1) must be conducted during normal business hours or at any other time agreed on by the business licensee and the Registrar.

(3) When acting under the authority of this section, the Registrar must carry identification and produce it to any person on request.

(4) The Registrar may in the course of an inspection require a person (

a) to give written or oral replies to questions, (

b) to produce any books, recor ds, reports, documents or other items, including electronic records or documents, and (

c) to provide any other information requested by the Registra r that may be related to the administration of this Act or the regulations.

Section 31

Chapter S-4.7 18 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT

(5) The Registrar may in the course of an inspection inspect, examine and make copies of or temporarily remove books, records, reports, documents or other items that may be related to the administration of this Act and the regulations.

(6) When the Registrar removes any books, records, reports or documents or other items under subsection (5), the Registrar (

a) must give a receipt for them to the person from whom they were taken, (

b) may make copies of, take photographs of or otherwise record them, and (

c) must, within a reasonable tim e, return them to the person to whom the receipt was given or to any person authorized to receive them.

(7) If entry under subsection (1) is refused or a person refuses to co-operate or interferes with the Registrar’s performance of duties under this section, the Registrar may apply to the Court by way of originating notice for an order that the Registrar may (

a) at any reasonable time ente r the premises and inspect the premises and records, and (

b) require the production of any books, records, reports, documents or other items and examine them, make copies of, take photographs of or otherwise record them or remove them temporarily for the purpose of making copies, and the Court may, on being satisfied that the order is necessary for the purpose of this section, make any order that it considers appropriate.

(8) An application under subsection (7) may be made ex parte if the Court considers it appropriate.

(9) After an inspection the Registrar may vary the terms and conditions of the business licence or suspend or cancel the business licence.

Part 6 Display of Licence, Records, Annual Returns Display of licence 31(1) A business licensee must display the business licence in a conspicuous location in each office of that business and in any

Section 32

Chapter S-4.7 19 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT other place in Alberta where the business licensee is engaged in or carries on the business in respect of which the business licence is held.

(2) Each individual licensee employed by a business licensee must provide a copy of the individual licensee’s licence for filing in the principal office of the business licensee.

(3) Every individual licensee must carry his or her licence and produce it to any person on request. Records 32 A business licensee must keep complete records (

a) of the names and addresses of all persons acting for or employed by the business licensee in the carrying on of the business in respect of which the business licence is held, (

b) in accordance with the reg ulations, of all security or investigative work undertaken, and (

c) in accordance with the regul ations, of any incident where an individual licensee employed or engaged for services by the business licensee used force, and must produce those records for inspection at any time on the request of the Registrar. 33 Repealed 2013 cS-19.3 s3.

Part 7 General Uniforms and weapons 34(1) An individual licensee must wear the uniform and insignia specified in the regulations for that class of licensees.

(2) An individual licensee shall not have in the licensee’s possession any weapons or equipment except those specified in the regulations or authorized by the Registrar. Peace officers 35 A peace officer appointed under the Peace Officer Act may be issued an individual licence and may be employed by a business licensee as an individual licensee only while the peace officer is not acting within the scope of the peace officer’s duties.

Section 36

Chapter S-4.7 20 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Collection agency or collector of debts 36 A licensee shall not (

a) act, either with or without remuneration, as a collection agency or a collector of debts or accounts, or (

b) hold out or advertise that the person is a collection agen cy or a collector of debts or accounts for any person. Prohibition 37 A licensee shall not hold out in any manner that the licensee performs or provides services or duties ordinarily performed or provided by police. Unlicensed employees 38 A business licensee shall not employ an individual to perform security or investigative work unless that individual is licensed under this Act or the regulations. Identification 39 A person shall not (

a) possess, display or permit to be displayed an altered or fraudulently obtained licence, (

b) transfer a licence to another person or permit another per son to use the licence, (

c) display or represent a licen ce as the person’s own licence if that licence was not issued to the person, (

d) display or represent as a valid licence a licence that has expired or that has been suspended or cancelled, or (

e) possess or display any badge, shield, card or other object purporting to indicate that the person is licensed under this Act unless the person is so licensed. Prohibited titles 40 A licensee shall not use the expression “private detective”, “law enforcement officer”, “protection officer” or “security officer” in connection with a business or employment, or hold out in any manner that the person is a private detective, law enforcement officer, protection officer or security officer or use any derivation of these terms that is likely to confuse the public.

Section 41

Chapter S-4.7 21 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Prohibited terminology 41 A business licensee shall not use the term “police”, “law enforcement”, “protection officer” or “security officer” in the name of the business, its letterhead or its advertising material or in any other way that may create the impression that the business performs a police or law enforcement function.

Proof of being licensed 42(1) A certificate purporting to be signed by the Registrar to the effect that indicates that the person named in it did or did not at any given time or during any given period hold a licence issued under this Act or the regulations shall be admitted in evidence as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the facts stated in it, without proof of the signature or appointment of the person signing the certificate.

(2) A statement in a letter, advertisement, card or other document or paper to the effect that a person is engaged in the business of providing security or investigative work or is acting on behalf of a business and is providing security or investigative work is admissible in evidence as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person is so engaged or acting, as the case may be.

Reciprocal agreements 43 If a reciprocal agreement exists between the Government of Alberta and another jurisdiction governing or recognizing licences to provide or to perform security or investigative work under this Act or equivalent legislation of that other jurisdiction, a person who has a valid licence issued in accordance with the rules in that other jurisdiction governing security or investigative work who wishes to provide or perform security or investigative work in Alberta shall provide a copy of that licence to the Registrar, and the Registrar may issue a licence to that person in accordance with the regulations.

Part 8 Offences and Penalties Offences 44(1) A person who hinders, obstructs or interferes with the Registrar in the performance of the Registrar’s functions or duties under this Act is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading statement to the Registrar or knowingly provides false information

Section 45

Chapter S-4.7 22 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT in any application, statement or return required under this Act is guilty of an offence. Offences 45(1) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the following provisions is guilty of an offence:

section 18;

section 19;

section 21;

section 31;

section 32;

section 33,

section 34(1), (2);

section 35;

section 36;

section 37;

section 38;

section 39;

section 40;

section 41.

(2) A person who contravenes the regulations is guilty of an offence. Penalties 46(1) A person who is guilty of an offence under

section 9, 44 or 45 is liable (

a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $ 5000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both a fine and imprisonment, and (

b) in the case of a business, to a fine of not more than $250 000.

(2) If a business commits an offence, any officer or director of the business who directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the offence is guilty of the offence and liable to the penalties mentioned in this

section whether or not the business has been prosecuted or convicted.

(3) A prosecution under subsection (1) may be commenced within 2 years of the commission of the alleged offence but not afterwards.

Section 47

Chapter S-4.7 23 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT

Part 9 Regulations Lieutenant Governor in Council regulations 47(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) prescribing the amount and form of security to be given in respect of different classes of licences; (

b) describing activities or ser vices for which a licence is required and prohibiting engaging in, providing or advertising those activities or services without a licence; (

c) describing activities or ser vices for which a person may engage in the business of providing individual licensees, or employing or engaging individual licensees, and prohibiting engaging in the business of providing individual licensees or employing or engaging individual licensees for those activities or services without a licence; (

d) respecting records that must be kept, including records respecting security or investigative work undertaken by a licensee and records respecting incidents where an individual licensee employed or engaged for services by a business licensee used force; (

e) respecting returns to be filed with the Registrar; (

f) respecting the prohibition, regulation and control of advertising by persons licensed under this Act; (

g) defining “armoured vehicle service”; (

h) respecting the types of weapons and equipment that may be used by individual licensees or classes of individual licensees generally or in particular circumstances, and prohibiting the use of weapons and equipment; (

i) respecting the training, use and control of dogs used for the security of persons, property or premises, and prohibiting or regulating the use of those dogs with respect to activities described in the regulations; (

j) respecting the collection, use and disclosure of personal information as defined in the Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes of making and approving applications, reviewing, cancelling or suspending or imposing terms and conditions on licences, conducting reviews, inspections and investigations and providing reports under this Act;

Section 48

Chapter S-4.7 24 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

k) prescribing information that must be provided to the Registrar by a licensee under

section 18 or 19; (

l) respecting the collection, use and disclosure of personal employee information as defined in the Personal Information Protection Act for the purpose of administering this Act; (

m) respecting any matter that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the intent and purpose of this Act.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may apply generally or to particular types or classes of licensees, and different regulations may be made in respect of different classes of licences. 2008 cS-4.7 s47;AR 141/2025 Ministerial regulations 48(1) The Minister may make regulations (

a) respecting the requirements for being issued a licence and for the renewal of a licence; (

b) prescribing different classes of licences; (

c) respecting businesses that must be licensed; (

d) respecting business activities that must be licensed; (

e) respecting terms and cond itions that may be imposed on a licence; (

f) prescribing the f ees payable for different classes of licences; (

g) requiring and governing th e return of licences that have been suspended or cancelled or that have terminated; (

h) respecting the issue, term, use, retention and destruction of licences; (

i) respecting the uniforms that may or must be worn by individual licensees; (

j) respecting vehicle markings for businesses or classes of businesses; (

k) respecting employment, qualifications, training, duties, discipline and performance of the duties of individual licensees;

Section 49

Chapter S-4.7 25 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT (

l) respecting the information that must be provided and conditions that must be met by an applicant for a licence or the renewal of a licence; (

m) respecting the investigation and disposition of complaints under

Part 4; (

n) respecting the establishment of a code of conduct for clas ses of individual licensees and classes of business licensees licensed under this Act.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may apply generally or to particular types or classes of licensees, and different regulations may be made in respect of different classes of licences.

Part 10 Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeal and Coming into Force Licences 49 A person who is licensed under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, RSA 2000 cP-23, when this Act comes into force is deemed to be licensed under this Act.

Complaints and appeals 50 Where a person has made a complaint or commenced an appeal under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, RSA 2000 cP-23, before this Act comes into force and the complaint or appeal process has not been concluded by the time this Act comes into force, the complaint or appeal must continue to be dealt with in accordance with the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act and the regulations under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act as they read immediately before the coming into force of this section.

Actions barred 51 No action may be brought to appeal, quash or set aside any decision or act of an Administrator made pursuant to the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, RSA 2000 cP-23, on the ground that the Administrator was not an employee of the Department of Justice at the time of such decision or act. Repeal 52 The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, RSA 2000 cP-23, is repealed.

Section 53

Chapter S-4.7 26 SECURITY SERVICES AND INVESTIGATORS ACT Coming into force 53 This Act comes into force on Proclamation. (NOTE: Proclaimed in force, except s33, June 1, 2010.)

Printed on Recycled Paper *9780779855339*

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Consolidated Statutes
Citation	RSA 2000 cS-4.7
Type	statute
Volume / chapter	RSA 2000 cS-4.7
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	6e5caeb05f9ce91455db52c4c49475ef624caf14

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).