WHEREAS there is a shortage of conservation officers in the province and most regions only have one officer to oversee the entire area;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to provide more funding to hire more conservation officers.

Response from Honourable Dustin Duncan, Minister of Environment:

The Ministry of Environment appreciates and values the positive working relationship it enjoys with SARM as well as the continued strong support our conservation officers and the compliance and enforcement program receive.  

The number of conservation officers in the province has varied over time due to many factors including ministry restructuring, streaming or specialization in job responsibilities, realignment of duties and improved compliance tools.

Currently, there are 123 trained staff with conservation officer status within 48 field offices. This includes seven compliance area managers, 20 compliance area specialists and 96 senior conservation officers. As well, within the compliance and enforcement central support section there are an additional 18 staff with conservation officer status bringing the total number of officers within the ministry to 141.

The ministry is confident that the compliance and enforcement program, delivered by the conservation officers with assistance through programs such as Turn In Poachers (TIP), will continue to provide the environment and natural resources of the province the level of protection necessary and expected by SARM and the Saskatchewan public.