Q: Can a conservation officer enter private property using the private laneway or do they have to enter through the bush? Someone has told me that they are not allowed to enter in the laneway.
Greg Giofu
A: An officer’s authority to enter private land depends on what their purpose is for entering. While most legislation gives officers the power to enter private land for the purpose of carrying out their duties, some does not. If we are talking about hunting and fishing situations, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, Fisheries Act and Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 all allow a conservation officer acting under the related act to enter private land. There is no restriction on where the officer can enter the land, so an officer could use any laneway or could enter through the bush.
ANSWER BY: David Critchlow, Provincial Enforcement Specialist, MNR
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Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS
Ask a CO is also a regular feature in the print edition
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