Canadian Environmental Protection Act: compliance and enforcement policy: chapter 2

Guiding principles

The following general principles govern the application of the act:

• compliance with the act and its regulations is mandatory
• enforcement officers throughout Canada will apply the act in a manner that is fair, predictable and consistent
• enforcement officers will use rules, sanctions and processes securely founded in law
• enforcement officers will administer the act with an emphasis on prevention of damage to the environment
• enforcement officers will examine every suspected violation of which they have knowledge, and will take action consistent with this compliance and enforcement policy
• enforcement officers will encourage the reporting of suspected violations of the act