Alberta Environment and Parks is increasing penalties and giving officers more power to address people breaking rules on public lands.
The province is introducing 38 new or increased penalties for people on public lands, according to a May 14 press release. Officers will also now be able to write on-the-spot tickets for these offences, saving law enforcement officers time in court, the press release said.
Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips said the government wants to see a significant decrease in public land abuses through these measures.
“It’s not intended to be heavy-handed, but firm and fair,” Phillips said in a provided recording of a May 14 press conference. “Serious public land abuses will be punished to the fullest extent of the legislation. We all share a responsibility to protect our public land and our natural landscape.”
The new penalties include mandatory court appearance for removing government property from public land, as well as a $310 fine for failing to report to a mandatory watercraft inspection station when open.
Fines will also increase for random camping on public land for more than the allowed 14 days from $172 to $287, while fines for unauthorized use of trap, explosives or firearms on a public land will increase from $250 to $500.
Alberta Environment and Parks minister press secretary Matt Dykstra said the fine figures were determined through a review committee.
"The committee considered existing ticket penalties in Alberta as well as tickets and penalties in other jurisdictions in order to provide advice on what penalty amounts would be fair but firm for each infraction,” Dykstra said in an email. “Alberta Environment and Parks also discussed the penalties with front-line enforcement officers to seek their advice and feedback.”
Alberta Environment and Parks is also providing an additional $1.5 million to hire about 20 seasonal rangers, five seasonal recreation engagement officers and eight seasonal problem wildlife positions, the May 14 press release said. The funding will also provide educational materials and targeted outreach.
Alberta RCMP criminal operations officer John Ferguson said new procedures, including on-the-spot ticketing, will help officers ability to protect Alberta’s public lands.
“These new procedures will allow our officers to operate more effectively when it comes to protecting the integrity of Alberta’s beautiful lands and waterways. Any process that increases efficiency in our day-to-day duties frees officers to better serve their communities in other capacities,” Ferguson said in a May 14 government press release.
Alberta Fish and Game Association president Doug Butler said his organization supports the increased measures and wants Alberta residents to have full access to public lands in a responsible, non-destructive manner.
“We’re trying to convince people that destructive use of the lands will not be tolerated and if it takes a larger penalty to get the point across, so be it,” Butler said. “If it doesn’t have a big enough impact, then our government will have to go one step further.”
The new and increased penalties will come into effect May 31. A list of the penalties is available through the Alberta Environment and Parks website.
