Compliance and enforcement policy for wildlife legislation: chapter 5

Definitions - Compliance and Enforcement

"Compliance" means conformity with the law. Compliance with legislation will be secured through two types of activity: promotion and enforcement.

Environment Canada believes that compliance can best be achieved by promoting widespread awareness of legislative requirements. The Department ensures that the public is aware of the requirements of its legislation and understands their responsibilities in conserving wildlife and its habitat.

Canada's goal is to develop an environmentally literate society.

"Enforcement" embodies those activities that compel adherence to legal requirements. These activities include:

• inspection and monitoring;
• investigation of violations;
• issuance of notices to individuals or businesses to require them to correct improper practices;
• issuance of tickets for violations;
• seizure of wildlife, or their parts and products, and any item that may have been used to commit the offence; and
• prosecution.

Legislation and regulation are only as good as their enforcement.