As Regional Director for the Northern Region, this position oversees a diverse team of multi-disciplinary individuals. The Regional Director administers the mandate of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Water Act. The Regional Director is responsible for a consistent and timely approval process, a firm and fair enforcement process, an education oriented compliance process, an inspection program to ensure compliance, development and implementation of regional strategies and plans, a safe drinking water program and service orientation to our clients.

The Regional Approvals Team is responsible for issuing approvals under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for activities that have air and water emissions or solid waste products that must be monitored, regulated and reported. This includes industrial activities, drinking water, wastewater, pesticides, land reclamation and waste management activities.

Under the Water Act, activities include approvals for work in watercourses, licensing all surface and groundwater allocations and managing the water use priority system during water shortages.

The Regional Compliance Team has the responsibility of delivering the Department's compliance program for both the Water Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act within the region. Proactive facility inspections, compliance education, responding to environmental complaints, report reviews conducting investigations and delivering enforcement actions are many of the major activities performed by the regional compliance staff.

The Regional Monitoring Team is responsible for the ambient monitoring of the region's air and water resources. Conducting snow surveys' measuring stream flows and lake/reservoir levels; gathering and maintaining meteorological stations; collecting and analyzing ambient air data; and conducting special air monitoring surveys are some of the major functions performed by regional monitoring staff.

District Compliance Teams are responsible for the implementation of an integrated compliance assurance, emergency response and investigation program for both the Water Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

The integrated compliance assurance program consists of compliance inspections at a variety of facilities including industrial, and municipal facilities. Inspections focus on identifying and correcting areas of non-compliance. This program also includes water inspections and conservation and reclamation activities.

In the environmental emergency response program, the District Compliance team provides technical assistance during an environmental emergency to the local authority through their Disaster Services agencies (fire, police, etc.) in support of effective decision making to protect the environment. The compliance team also responds to environmental complaints, conducts investigations and delivers enforcement actions in the region.

Regional Environmental Management provides environmental leadership and promotes stewardship through integrated resource and water management/planning in the Northern Region. This group also coordinates and supports communication, public consultation and environmental awareness in the region.