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. 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. 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.