The Alberta Vehicle Equipment Regulation is what determines what is legal or illegal when it comes to vehicle maintenance.

A missing hood would definitely fall into this category.

Is it illegal to drive without a hood in Alberta?

It is illegal to drive without a hood, according to the Alberta Vehicle Equipment Regulation.

If the vehicle was manufactured with a hood, it needs to be attached and in safe working order.

This is the most reasonable interpretation of the following quote from the regulation:

Any equipment or safety system installed in a vehicle by the manufacturer of the vehicle must be maintained in good working order and in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Alberta Vehicle Equipment Regulation

Further down in the regulation it also mentions hood latches specifically.

Part 4
”Other Equipment”
(67)

(1) A motor vehicle’s hood that opens from the front must have a primary and a secondary hood latch mechanism.
(2) The secondary hood latch mechanism must prevent the hood from opening if the primary hood latch mechanism fails.
(3) This section does not apply to motor vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1971.

In Summary

• It is illegal to drive without a hood in Alberta.
• While the law does not specifically mention the hood directly, it is illegal to drive without all the equipment and safety features designed and installed by the manufacturer.
• You must also ensure that the hood latches are in proper working condition.