Environmental enforcement: responsibilities and activities

Environmental enforcement officers enforce federal legislation that deals with different risks to the environment and its biodiversity. These laws regulate, for example, the use of toxic substances, their release to air, water or land, as well as the import and export of substances that present a risk to the environment and/or human life or health, such as hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials.  Environmental enforcement officers enforce these laws throughout Canada in collaboration with provincial, territorial governments and national and international agencies and organizations.

Please contact us if you suspect a non-compliant incident within Environment and Climate Change Canada’s jurisdiction. More information on Environment and Climate Change Canada Acts and Regulations can be found in our Resource Center. Some instances of environmental concerns should be reported to provincial/territorial environment and/or natural resources and/or health department officials or local authorities who have immediate jurisdiction. Examples include the illegal dumping or burning of garbage and concerns over drinking water.

Individuals and businesses with questions pertaining to regulatory development or methods of how to comply with Environment and Climate Change Canada administered legislation should consult legal expertise with experience in environmental legislation.

If you require information that you are unable to find on our website, you may apply for this information under the Access to Information Act. To do this, you must make an Access to Information Request. Additional details on this process is available on Treasury Board's Access to Information page.

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