Halifax: Labour Investigator Warns of Armed Criminal Threats to Fishery Officers, Urges Immediate Action
A federal labour investigator has ruled that heavily armed criminals present a serious threat to the lives of fisheries enforcement officers in the Maritimes, ordering immediate steps to improve safety measures.
In a report released Friday, the federal labour program’s compliance unit stated that the current “protective equipment and tactical protocols” used during fisheries investigations are inadequate. The decision comes after fisheries officers filed work refusal applications under the Canada Labour Code, citing life-threatening conditions.
The report highlights that fishery officers in the Maritime region have faced dangerous encounters with individuals carrying weapons. Intelligence reports indicate some fishers are armed with assault rifles, and there have been incidents involving outlaw motorcycle gangs in possession of firearms. Additionally, a number of these illegal fishers are convicted violent criminals who have directly threatened officers both in person and on social media.
Further, the report details aggressive confrontations at sea, including enforcement efforts at the U.S.-Canada border, where officers have faced live fire during inspections of fishing gear.
While the report doesn’t specify how these claims were verified, the findings underscore the increasing risks faced by fisheries officers. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which oversees the federal labour program, declined to confirm the report’s specifics, citing confidentiality.
Samuelle Carbonneau, a spokeswoman for ESDC, stated that the labour program is closely working with the employer to ensure the health and safety of workers while maintaining oversight until the issue is fully resolved.
Meanwhile, Debbie Buott-Matheson, a spokesperson for the fisheries department, confirmed that officers are resuming their duties, adding that measures are being implemented to address the labour program’s directives. “The health and safety of our fishery officers remains our top concern. Acts of violence and threats toward them will not be tolerated,” she stated.
Despite these assurances, experts are calling for more comprehensive data. Véronique Chadillon-Farinacci, a criminology professor at the University of Moncton, emphasized the need for more information to assess whether threats and violence against fishery officers have escalated.
“There are anecdotal signs of a serious situation,” said Chadillon-Farinacci, adding that the role of fishery officers may be evolving to resemble that of law enforcement, given the severity of the threats they face.
