About Environment and Climate Change Canada's enforcement branch
Overview of the Enforcement Branch
The Enforcement Branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces federal environmental and wildlife acts and related regulations in a fair, predictable, and consistent manner.
The mission of the Enforcement Branch is to protect and conserve:
- the environment
- wildlife and their habitats
They do this by assessing risk, enforcing legislation, and restoring compliance.
In-the-field enforcement officers enforce environmental and wildlife laws guided by the values of excellence, integrity, and respect and in accordance with compliance and enforcement policies.
Officers enforce these laws throughout Canada, working with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments along with national and international partners.
Under the direction of the Chief Enforcement Officer, the Enforcement Branch carries out its activities across the country from its national office in Gatineau, Quebec, and in offices located in five regions:
- the Atlantic Region
- the Quebec Region
- the Ontario Region
- the Prairie and Northern Region
- the Pacific and Yukon Region
Environmental enforcement
Enforcement officers enforce federal legislation that aims to reduce risks to the environment and its biodiversity. For example, they enforce the laws that regulate:
- the use of toxic substances and their release to water or land
- the import and export of substances that pose a risk to the environment or to human life or health, such as hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials
This legislation includes the following acts and regulations, among others:
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations
- Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations
- Fisheries Act Pollution Prevention Provisions
- Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
- Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations
The following policies outline the principles that guide environmental enforcement activities:
- Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) – March 2001
- Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act – November 2001
- Policy Framework to Implement the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
Environmental enforcement case examples
Over the years, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Enforcement Branch has led multiple investigations which resulted in successful prosecution:
- In 2022, ArcelorMittal Canada Inc. and 7623704 Canada Inc. were fined a total of $15 million after ArcelorMittal Canada Inc. was found guilty of 93 charges and 7623704 Canada Inc. was found guilty of five charges for violating a federal environmental law and its regulation.
- In 2021, Teck Coal Limited was ordered to pay a total of $60 million in fines and monetary court orders after a guilty plea was entered on two counts of unlawfully depositing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish.
- In 2020, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, a German-based car manufacturer, was ordered to pay an unprecedented $196.5 million fine after pleading guilty to 60 charges for offences under federal environmental laws.
For more examples of successful prosecution: enforcement notifications.
Learn about environmental enforcement:
Wildlife enforcement
Enforcement officers also work to reduce threats and damages to biodiversity for the benefit of all Canadians and the global community. They enforce wildlife legislation that protects Canada’s plant and animal species, including migratory birds and their nests.
They also enforce wildlife protection legislation aimed at the conservation of threatened or potentially threatened species found in Canada or abroad.
These laws regulate human interventions, such as:
- commercial trade in wildlife
- activities that may harm protected species or migratory birds
- access to federally protected areas
This legislation includes the following acts and regulations, among others:
- Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act
- Species at Risk Act
- Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
- Canada Wildlife Act
- Wildlife Area Regulations
- The Antarctic Environmental Protection Act
- Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022
The following policies outline the principles that guide wildlife enforcement activities:
- Compliance and Enforcement Policy for Wildlife Legislation
- Policy Framework to Implement the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
Wildlife enforcement case examples
Over the years, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Enforcement Branch has led multiple investigations which resulted in successful prosecution:
- In 2024, an individual from Alberta was sentenced to a $35,000 fine for illegally importing and possessing protected turtles and turtle eggs. In addition, the individual was issued a prohibition order which prohibits the possession of any live animal (including wild animals, livestock, and pets) for a period of two years.
- In 2023, an Ontario taxidermist was fined $60,000 after violating a federal wildlife law for the unlawful exports of a polar bear mount and two hides.
- In 2021, three individuals from Newfoundland and Labrador were fined a total of $17,000 for offences under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. They were also prohibited from applying for, using, or possessing a Migratory Game Bird Permit for a period of one year.
For more examples of successful prosecution: enforcement notifications.
Learn about wildlife enforcement:
National policy and priorities
The Enforcement Branch sets enforcement priorities to proactively and efficiently target sectors with the highest risk of non-compliance that pose the greatest potential harm to the environment, in addition to other departmental enforcement priorities (for example, incident responses or referrals).
The Enforcement Branch also develops policy and strategies toward implementing Government of Canada priorities and for interactions with international, provincial, and territorial partners, as well as Indigenous communities.
Officer development and Branch standards
The Enforcement Branch has a dedicated team that works on officer development and Branch standards.
More specifically, they work on:
- the National Designation Program, including officer and partner training
- the Enforcement Officer Development Program and recruitment of new officers
- training, recertification framework, and equipment
- officer safety, including the Mental Health Program
- operational policies and standard operating procedures
The work the team does in these areas is critical to the safe and effective functioning of the Enforcement Branch.