Parks Canada is closing at least 13 warden detachments and prioritizing a regional service for law enforcement, according to multiple sources.
Detachments will be closing in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon and Northwest Territories.
The number of wardens impacted by the decision is unknown, but CBC News has learned at least a dozen positions will be cut. Some detachments, such as Banff and Jasper, will each lose one warden, multiple sources told CBC News.
“We’re deeply concerned what that looks like. These aren’t just administrative changes,” said Krysty Thomas, regional executive vice-president for Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Prairies region.
“We’re talking about highly trained officers who play an important role in protecting our national parks, enforcing environmental laws and providing critical support to other employees working in the field.”
These changes come amidst $145 million in cuts to Parks Canada over the next three years.
Parks Canada acting CEO and vice-president of transformation Andrew Campbell wrote in an Oct. 20 email to staff that 2,917 letters went out to employees to let them know they could move to new jobs or be let go. Thomas said the union has been told Parks Canada plans to cut 517 full-time jobs.
Parks Canada plan to cut 500 jobs draws criticism from union
Among the detachments closing will be Kluane National Park in Yukon, Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia, Elk Island National Park in Alberta and Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. Others are Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in British Columbia, Fundy National Park in New Brunswick and Nahanni National Park Reserve in Northwest Territories.
A new regional system will have 85 total wardens spread over western, central, eastern and northern Canada, and the Rockies.
Thomas said PSAC wants to hear how Parks Canada will “maintain these important services with fewer people in fewer locations.”
Meaghan Bradley, a spokesperson in Parks Canada’s national communications office, told CBC News the federal agency is “modernizing its law enforcement model by redistributing capacity to focus on areas of highest priority and risk.”
Bradley didn’t acknowledge the number of wardens being let go, but said
