The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry has made changes to its Investigation and Enforcement Section to improve service provided to Islanders.
The Investigation and Enforcement Section consists of conservation officers and pesticide regulatory officers located throughout the province.
“These officers play a critical role in protecting our environment in Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Jamie Ballem. “They not only enforce environmental legislation, but more importantly, they help prevent violations through their day-to-day work, ensuring Islanders in communities throughout the province are aware of the rules in place to protect the environment.”
Minister Ballem said several staffing changes in recent months provided the opportunity to look at how services are delivered and how improvements could be made.
John Clements became head of the Investigation and Enforcement Section this spring when the former section head Gerald MacDougall was hired as Manager of the Fish and Wildlife Section. Mr. Clements has worked in enforcement for 20 years – starting as a federal fisheries officer, and serving as a conservation officer in the central region of the province the past 17 years. He lives in New Glasgow with his wife and three children. He is actively involved with youth in the area as a minor hockey and soccer volunteer, and he is an avid hunter and fisher.
When Mr. Clements became section head, his former position was designated as an Aboriginal Conservation Officer, based in O'Leary. In addition to other duties, the Aboriginal Conservation Officer serves as a liaison with the aboriginal people of Prince Edward Island in the areas of conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment and wildlife. Aaron Waddell was hired to fill the position.
“This is something which the Native Council of PEI has suggested in the past and I’m pleased that the department was able to designate the position,” said Minister Ballem. “Having a conservation officer with aboriginal status and a sound knowledge of aboriginal culture and communities will help us better serve aboriginal people in Prince Edward Island.”
In reviewing enforcement services, the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry also made slight changes in the role of staff in the Investigation and Enforcement Section. Conservation officers all still have the same responsibilities and duties; however, some will have a primary focus of environmental enforcement, while others will focus more on natural resources – tasks such as bird banding, wildlife surveys, and responding to nuisance animal complaints.
Pesticide regulatory officers primarily enforce the Pesticides Control Act; however, they are also designated as environment officers and are involved in enforcement of some sections of the Environmental Protection Act. Conservation officers enforce several pieces of provincial legislation assigned to the Department of Environment Energy and Forestry: the Environmental Protection Act, Wildlife Conservation Act, Natural Areas Protection Act, Pesticides Control Act, Unsightly Property Act and Automobile Junk Yards Act. They also enforce several other provincial and federal acts and regulations related to pollution prevention and wildlife protection. For example, conservation officers enforce sections of the Trespass to Property Act related to hunting and fishing, littering offences under the Highway Traffic Act, and the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act related to the protection of migratory birds.