Support for Canada's Federal Park Wardens Grows

February 20, 2001 - The North American Wildlife Officers Association (NAWEOA) supports the National Park Warden Association and Canada's National Park Wardens in their struggle to obtain personal safety equipment and training for the men and women that protect Canada's national parks. Canadian Park Wardens are one of the few remaining natural resource officers in Canada yet to be issued sidearms. All natural resources officers in the United States and almost every natural resource officer in Canada have been issued the full range of personal protective equipment, including sidearms.

Parks Canada has seen fit to ignore three reports and their own internal committee's recommendations that say Park Wardens conducting law enforcement duties should be issued with sidearms. A Health and Safety Officer has found that Park Wardens face "danger" and are at risk of "grievous bodily harm and death". The Health and Safety Officer has ordered Parks Canada to provide sidearms to their Park Wardens or remove or alter the danger. Parks Canada's is threatening to remove the law enforcement role from Park Wardens and have police and other agencies protect Canada's national parks. A study conducted three years ago by both the RCMP and Parks Canada concluded that Park Wardens should continue their law enforcement role as they have done for years. Is this a short term measure until Park Wardens receive the sidearms they need to protect them selves and the resource? Does Parks Canada and Minister Sheila Copps really believe that the Canadian Public will stand by and see the Warden Service dismantled?

Taking enforcement duties away from National Park Wardens is a slap in the face to our profession.

Canadian National Park Wardens are natural resources law enforcement professionals. Park Wardens have the knowledge skills, abilities and the true desire to protect the National Parks, the visiting public and maintain ecological integrity.

NAWEOA statistics on officer deaths speak for themselves about the danger of the workplace. Since 1981 forty-six officers have been killed in the line of duty in Canada and the United States. Fourteen of these officers had been shot to death. Violence is unpredictable and can happen during any compliance check.

It is time to stop playing politics and provide the training and equipment that National Park Wardens need and deserve. Parks Canada has not been clear on this issue since the Labor Canada Ruling.

Where is the emergency equipment implementation plan? If the intent is to devolve National Park Warden from enforcement duties and leave our National Parks and their wildlife treasures to fend for themselves then the Liberal Government will have to answer to the Canadian public.

For more information contact:

Randy Hancock - NAWEOA President Kerry Wrishko - NAWEOA Vice-President

Box 990 Box 70

Buena Vista, Colorado USA Leader, Saskatchewan

81211 (719) 395-2880 S0N 1H0 (306) 628-3900

Kevin Carr - NAWEOA Director Region 1

(Western & North Western Canada)

3295 Bliss Crescent

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

S6V 6G1

(306) 764 9715

Gerry Brunet - NAWEOA Director Region 2 Brent Cole - NAWEOA Director Region 3

(Central Canada) (Eastern Canada)

126 Childerhorse Crescent 4 Marc Garneau Place

Brantford, Ontario Gander, Newfoundland

N3P 1Z6 A1V 2M3