ENFORCEMENT

 

Our Mission:

 

To safeguard the public interest by leading and delivering professional regulatory protection of Ontario's natural resources. 

  

**NOTICE**
Ontario Conservation Officers will be actively checking hunters returning to Ontario with elk or deer harvested in other provinces or states. It is illegal to possess many parts of these animals due to the risk of introducing chronic wasting disease (CWD) to Ontario. See links below for further information or contact your local MNR office

 

Illegal to Buy or Sell Sport Caught Fish - Fact Sheets
Sport fishing is a traditional and fun activity enjoyed by people from many ethnic communities.  We are pleased to be able to provide these fact sheets in Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese as well as English and French........Link to Fact Sheets



 
 

ENFORCEMENT NEWS

 

Parry Sound Conservation Officer Recognized For Outstanding Service


McGuinty Government Protecting Ontario’s Natural Resources

 

August 14, 2009 - Jim McMullen of Parry Sound has been named the Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year for 2009. More...

 

News Archive


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Enforcement 

 

For more than 100 years, Conservation Officers have been protecting Ontario's natural resources from waste, abuse and depletion. It's a big job with a rich history.

Ontario's Conservation Officers patrol a province of more than 1 million square kilometers, protecting wildlife as diverse as polar bears in the north and prickly pear cactus in south. In between are 250,000 lakes, hundreds of rivers and a vast expanse of forests.

 

Enforcement staff includes: Appointed Conservation Officers and Supervisors working across Ontario in field offices in 25 districts and 3 Great Lakes Units, intelligence/investigation staff, main office staff and Provincial Communications Unit staff.

 

Enforcement efforts cover all MNR program areas including; Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Lands/Waters, Species at Risk, Petroleum, Parks, Agriculture, Fire and Aggregates.

 

The Enforcement Branch also maintains specialized units and services that support field enforcement: Canine Program, Special Investigative Services and a Training Program.

 

 

Risk-based Approach to Compliance



It is illegal to abandon fish and game or allow it to spoil.

The Ministry is moving towards a formalized risk-based approach to compliance.
 

  • The new compliance framework will be based on risk assessment principles that will enable the MNR to focus its work and response to incidents on the risk posed to:
    • human health and safety
    • our natural resources and
    • the economy

 

  • The risk-based compliance framework will enable the Ministry to focus their enforcement resources on the area of greatest risk.  These will include:
    • Focusing proactive work on areas of highest risk
    • Prioritizing incident/complaint response based on risk
    • Prioritizing resources for special investigations based on risk

 

The mandate of the Enforcement Branch is to provide effective regulatory protection of Ontario's natural resources, environment and public safety. MNR enforces 27 Acts and Regulations and administers 45 Acts and Regulations.