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Wardens

Should national park wardens carry handguns?

Earlier this year, the wardens' union lodged a complaint under the Canada Labour Code, stating that Parks Canada was failing to provide park wardens with the proper equipment and training required for law-enforcement duties. A health and safety investigation ensued, and in February, the investigator ruled that wardens are increasingly at risk and should be provided with side arms. But Parks Canada CEO Tom Lee, who is appealing the labour code ruling, has temporarily suspended the enforcement responsibilities of all wardens and has contracted out to the RCMP responsibility for law enforcement in the parks. Lee believes that giving the wardens guns "will fundamentally change" the organization, nudging it further in the direction of law enforcement and a more hierarchical and disciplined police structure.
The labour code appeal is not expected to be heard for some months. In the meantime, the RCMP has beefed up its detachments in and around all national parks.

For the past year, Canadian Geographic has been reporting on the renewed commitment by Parks Canada to the goal of ecological integrity. In feature stories, we have examined the pressures on wildlife in the parks, the stresses of rising visitation and the perils and pleasures of living next to a national park. Through it all, we have invited readers to tell us about their relationship to our national parks. Your responses, posted to our website, have been passionate. Now we'd like you to take the time to tell us what you think the role of the wardens should be.

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