Enforcement at Environment Canada
	Environment Canada’s mission is to help Canadians to live and prosper in an environment that is respected, protected, and preserved.
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Laws to Protect and Preserve Laws to Protect and Preserve

Canada has powerful environmental protection and wildlife conservation legislation that has been adopted by the federal government, as well as provincial, territorial, and aboriginal governments. These laws are adopted to protect and preserve our natural legacy, the environment — and human health and safety.

Enforcement of federal legislation is an important priority for Environment Canada and incorporates the effort of employees from various expertises and programs.

Environment Canada’s Enforcement Role

Environment Canada is responsible for enforcing federal environmental laws. The department must also ensure that Canada observes its international obligations under several international conventions and agreements for protecting the environment from pollution and for preserving endangered species, migratory birds, and biological diversity. More information on these international conventions and agreements can be found at Environment Canada’s website at www.ec.gc.ca Environment Canada helps Canadian individuals, businesses, and organizations make responsible decisions about the environment by informing them of rules and regulations and encouraging practices that will better protect the environment, human health and wildlife.

Through its Enforcement Program, Environment Canada takes action against those who violate environmental and wildlife laws. With the support of the department’s partners, the Enforcement Program ensures that the federal laws and regulations are respected and that enforcement measures are taken against alleged offenders.

Collaboration in Enforcement

Environment Canada collaborates with others in the enforcement of federal environmental protection and wildlife conservation laws. The help of other entities is critical in securing compliance with the laws and regulations. They include the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Parks Canada Agency, Justice Canada, and provincial and territorial conservation and natural resource departments and ministries. Environment Canada also enters into partnerships with many other national and international organizations, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Interpol. A number of non-governmental organizations are also involved in enforcement-related activities.

Enforcement Responsibilities at Environment Canada

As indicated above, enforcement activities at Environment Canada are focused on two main subject matters: pollution prevention and wildlife conservation. These areas work closely together.

Pollution Prevention is located in the Environmental Protection Service (EPS) at Environment Canada. EPS administers and enforces:

• the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and its regulations, and
• the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act and its regulations.

Wildlife Conservation is located in the Environmental Conservation Service (ECS) at Environment Canada. ECS administers and enforces:

• the Canada Wildlife Act and its regulations;
• the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) and its regulations;
• the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Inter-provincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) and its regulations; and
• the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Enforcement to Protect the Environment and Conserve Wildlife

Environment Canada enforces laws that:

• prevent the release to air, water, or land of regulated toxic substances and pollutants that can negatively affect the environment, including air, water, wildlife, and human health;
• control the import and export of hazardous wastes, hazardous recyclable material, and toxic substances that might be harmful for the environment, wildlife, and human health;
• protect habitat, species at risk, migratory birds, and the quality of water in which fish and other aquatic life make their home; and
• control the import and export of endangered species or products made from these species.

Compliance

Environment Canada’s enforcement activities help Canadians to comply with laws and regulations, which contributes to protect Canada’s environment and preserve its wildlife. Compliance is defined as the state of conformity with the law and related regulations.

Environment Canada takes measures to inform those Canadians who are subject to laws and regulations about the requirements in those legal texts. It encourages practices that prevent pollution and promote sustainable development — the key to a clean and healthy environment. For instance, when regulations are developed under major laws, such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 or the Canada Wildlife Act, Environment Canada carries out activities such as workshops and publishes notices in the Canada Gazette, as well as fact sheets, guidelines and reports, in order to inform the regulatees and the public of the existence of these laws and regulations and their contents. This is known as compliance promotion. These activities are defined through the formal Compliance and Enforcement Policy of Environment Canada, and all communications from Environment Canada’s personnel have to adhere to its principles. These policies are also available at www.ec.gc.ca/ele-ale/index.asp

Helping Canadians achieve compliance is a major goal at Environment Canada. Voluntary efforts of Canadians are encouraged; however, the department is prepared to take strong enforcement measures when it becomes necessary.

Enforcement

In addition to informing those who must comply with the laws and encouraging voluntary efforts of Canadians to achieve compliance, Environment Canada’s enforcement personnel conduct formal inspections to verify compliance with laws and regulations, direct or take corrective actions if needed, investigate alleged violations of the laws that the department administers, and recommend to the Department of Justice to prosecute alleged offenders. Measures to deal with violations include warnings, orders of various types, tickets, seizure, detention, arrest, and prosecution. Verifying compliance, taking corrective actions, and taking enforcement measures against offenders are known as enforcement. Enforcement procedures are strictly defined and are based on the formal Compliance and Enforcement Policy of Environment Canada. In the course of their duties, enforcement officers have to apply rigorous enforcement principles, such as:

• Compliance is mandatory. This means that the obligations and requirements set out in environmental laws and regulations have to be met or exceeded at all times.
• Enforcement must be fair, predictable, consistent and securely founded in law.
• Enforcement officers will take action with an emphasis on prevention of damage to the environment.
• Every suspected violation must be examined and action taken.
• Citizens are encouraged to report to officers any situation that might violate federal environmental laws and their regulations.

More information about the compliance and enforcement policies for the environmental protection and wildlife conservation acts administered by Environment Canada is available at www.ec.gc.ca/ele-ale/index.asp

Environment Canada Enforcement Offices

Environmental Protection Enforcement is located in the headquarters Enforcement Branch in the Environmental Protection Service (EPS) and five regional Enforcement offices in the Environmental Protection Branches (EPB).

Wildlife Conservation Enforcement is located in the headquarters Enforcement Branch in the Environmental Conservation Service/ Canadian Wildlife Service (ECS/CWS) and five regional Enforcement offices in the Environmental Conservation Branches/ Canadian Wildlife Service (ECB/CWS).

Pollution Prevention Enforcement

Headquarters – EPS

351 St. Joseph Blvd.
Gatineau, Quebec
Telephone: (819) 953-1523

Atlantic Region – EPB

45 Alderney Drive
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Telephone: (902) 426-1925

Quebec Region – EPB

105 McGill Street
Montreal, Quebec
Telephone: (514) 283-0181

Ontario Region – EPB

4905 Dufferin Street
Downsview, Ontario
Telephone: (416) 739-5897

Prairie and Northern Region – EPB

4999, 98^th Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Telephone: (780) 951-8861

Pacific and Yukon Region – EPB

224 Esplanade West
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Telephone: (604) 666-0002

Wildlife Conservation Enforcement

Headquarters – ECS/CWS

351 St. Joseph Blvd.
Gatineau, Quebec
Telephone: (819) 953-4383

Atlantic Region -– ECB/CWS

6 Bruce Street
Mount Pearl, Newfoundland
Telephone: (709) 772-2198

Quebec Region – ECB/CWS

1141 Route de l’Église
Ste-Foy, Quebec
Telephone: (514) 283-0181

Ontario Region – ECB/CWS

867 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, Ontario
Telephone: (905) 319-6960

Prairie and Northern Region – ECB/CWS

115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Telephone: (306) 975-4290

Pacific and Yukon Region – ECB/CWS

224 Esplanade West
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Telephone: (604) 666-7338