List of law enforcement agencies in Canada explained
Law enforcement in Canada is the responsibility of police services, special constabularies, and civil law enforcement agencies, which are operated by every level of government, some private and Crown corporations, and First Nations. Canada's provinces are responsible for the development and maintenance of police forces and special constabularies,[1] while civil law enforcement is the responsibility of the level or agency of government that developed those laws, and civil law enforcement agencies may be given a range of powers to enforce those laws.[2] As such, the exact duties and authority of individual law enforcement agencies vary significantly.
Police services may take on additional duties such as municipal by-law enforcement,[3] [4] and police services range in size from small, one-officer forces that are generally limited to enforcing provincial and municipal legislation to large organizations charged with investigating complex financial crimes.[5] [6] In Ontario, police services are obliged to provide at least five core police services — crime prevention, law enforcement, maintenance of the public peace, emergency response, and assistance to victims of crime — to fulfill the province's requirement for "adequate and effective policing,"[7] while in neighbouring Quebec, the responsibilities of a police force are dependent on the population it serves.[8] Other jurisdictions, such as Manitoba and British Columbia, do not define adequate and effective policing, although individual regulations in both of those provinces set out basic responsibilities of police forces.[9]
Although special constabularies exist in some form in almost every province, they are referred to by a number of different titles and carry different levels of authority between provinces and agencies. The Niagara Parks Police Service, for example, employs armed officers responsible for providing almost all police services on and in relation to lands owned by the Niagara Parks Commission;[10] while the University of Saskatchewan Protective Services Division's unarmed officers are limited to enforcing University by-laws, some provincial laws, and limited sections of the Criminal Code.[11] The exact definition of a special constabulary also varies province-to-province, and some civil law enforcement agencies, usually those whose staff are designated as special constables, are also sometimes considered special constabularies.[12] Generally, a special constabulary is any law enforcement organization composed of special constables, peace officers, or safety officers (as opposed to police officers) with a mandate for criminal law enforcement and/or general peacekeeping and security.
The powers of civil law enforcement agencies also vary significantly. Some, like the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, have the authority to enforce criminal legislation in addition to their primary mandate to enforce civil legislation,[13] while others are limited to enforcing only a handful of by-laws or provincial acts. Regardless of the breadth of their legislative authority, all civil law enforcement officers in Canada are considered peace officers for the purposes of carrying out their duties,[14] [15] [16] and may be variously appointed as special constables, municipal law enforcement officers,[17] provincial offences officers,[18] or generically as peace officers.[19]
For the purposes of this list, agencies are grouped by their primary responsibilities and legislative definitions.
Federal
Police services
Railway police
The federal government, under the Railway Safety Act, authorizes any railway in Canada to request that a superior court judge appoint railway employees as police officers.[23] These officers are hired, trained, and employed by the railway for the purposes of preventing crimes against the company and the protection of goods, materials, and public rail transit being moved through the railway network, and have nationwide jurisdiction within 500 metres of a railway line or as it relates to railway operations.[24] There are three such federally-authorized police forces in the country:
Civil law enforcement agencies
Alberta
Police services
Special constabularies
- Alberta Health Services, Protective Services
- Alberta Humane Society Peace Officers
- Calgary Transit Public Safety and Enforcement Section[35]
- Edmonton Transit Protective Services[36]
- University of Alberta Protective Services
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Protective Services
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism, Conservation Officers
- Alberta Correctional Services Division
- Alberta Environment and Parks - Environmental Protection Peace Officers
- Alberta Sheriffs Branch[37]
British Columbia
See main article: List of law enforcement agencies in British Columbia.
Police services
Designated Policing Units
In British Columbia, the Solicitor General may establish a "designated policing unit" to provide specialized police services in a geographic area alongside the police service(s) of jurisdiction.[38] These forces answer to a board composed of representatives selected directly by the Solicitor General, and may include community representatives, representatives from area police services, or representatives from the corporations funding the designated policing unit's operations.[39] There are three such units in the province:
Special constabularies
- Legislative Assembly Protective Services[42]
Civil law enforcement agencies
Manitoba
Police services
- Altona Police Service[49]
- Brandon Police Service[50]
- Morden Police Service[51]
- RM of Cornwallis Police Service[5]
- Rivers Police Service
- Sainte-Anne Police Service[52]
- Springfield Police Service
- Victoria Beach Police[53]
- Winkler Police Service[54]
- Winnipeg Police Service
Special constabularies
- University of Manitoba Campus Safety and Security (Institutional Safety Officers)
- Winnipeg Transit Safety Officers (Institutional Safety Officers)[55]
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Manitoba Conservation Officers Service
- Manitoba Sheriff Service
- Motor Carrier Enforcement Highway Patrol [56]
- Natural Resource Officer Service
- Manitoba Corrections
New Brunswick
Police services
- Bathurst City Police Service
- Beresford, Nigadoo, Petit-Rocher and Pointe-Verte Regional Police Service (B.N.P.P. Regional Police Service)
- Edmundston Police Force
- Fredericton Police Force
- Grand Falls Police Force
- Kennebecasis Regional Police Force
- Miramichi Police Force
- Saint John Police Force
- Woodstock Police Force
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Inspections and Enforcement New Brunswick
- Conservation Enforcement
- Highway Safety Enforcement
- Health Protection Services
- New Brunswick Sheriff’s Service
- Correctional Services
- Coroner's Service
Newfoundland and Labrador
Police services
Special constabularies
- Memorial University Campus Enforcement and Patrol[57]
Civil law enforcement agencies
Northwest Territories
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Inuvik Municipal Enforcement
- Hay River Municipal Enforcement
- Northwest Territories Highway Patrol
- Northwest Territories Renewable Resources Officer Service
- Northwest Territories Parks Officer Service
- Northwest Territories Sheriff Service
- Northwest Territories Corrections Service
- Yellowknife Municipal Enforcement Division
Nova Scotia
Police services
- Amherst Police Department
- Annapolis Royal Police Department
- Bridgewater Police Service
- Cape Breton Regional Police Department: Sydney
- Halifax Regional Police
- Kentville Police Service
- New Glasgow Regional Police: New Glasgow
- New Glasgow Regional Police: Trenton
- Stellarton Police Service
- Truro Police Service
- Westville Police Service
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Nova Scotia Sheriff Service
- Nova Scotia Vehicle Transportation Inspection
- Nova Scotia Conservation Enforcement
- Nova Scotia Farm Animal Health & Welfare
- Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Child Welfare Services
- Adult Protection Services
- Nova Scotia Correctional Service
Nunavut
Civil law enforcement agencies
Ontario
Police services
Special constabularies
Civil law enforcement agencies
Prince Edward Island
Police services
Special constabularies
- UPEI Campus Security Police
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Prince Edward Island Conservation Officers
- Prince Edward Island Department of Corrections
- Prince Edward Island Fire Marshals Office
- Prince Edward Island Highway Safety
- Prince Edward Island Sheriff Services
Quebec
Police services
- Sûreté du Québec
- Service de police de la Ville de Québec
- Service de police de l'agglomération de Longueuil
- Service de police de la Ville de Blainville
- Service de police de Châteauguay
- Régie de police de Lac des Deux-Montagnes
- Service de police de l'Assomption/St-Sulpice
- Service de police de la Ville de Lévis
- Service de la sécurité publique Ville de Mascouche
- Service de police de Mercier
- Service de police de Mirabel
- Service de police de la MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais
- Service de sécurité publique de la Ville de Repentigny
- Régie intermunicipale de police Richelieu-Saint-Laurent
- Régie intermunicipale de police de Roussillon
- Service de sécurité publique de Saguenay
- Sécurité publique de Saint-Eustache
- Service de police de la Ville de Sherbrooke
- Service de police de Terrebonne
- Régie intermunicipale de police de Thérèse-de-Blainville
- Service de sécurité publique de Trois-Rivières
- Service de police de la Ville de Bromont
- Service de police de la Ville de Granby
- Régie de police de Memphrémagog
- Service de police de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
- Service de police de la Ville de Saint-Jérôme
Special constabularies
- Sûreté des réseaux de la Société de transport de Montréal (Transit Special Constables)
- Université de Montréal Le Bureau de la Sûreté
Civil law enforcement agencies
-
- Direction de la sécurité dans les palais de justice (special constables)
- Bureau du taxi de Montréal
- sécurité publique des arrondissements et Villes liée de Montréal
- Bureau de la lutte contre le tabagisme Québec
- Enquete SPCA
- MAPAQ
- Enquete Contrôle animalier Montreal
- Enquete Hydro Québec
Saskatchewan
Police services
- Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS)[67]
- Corman Park Police Service[68]
- Dalmeny Police Service[69]
- Estevan Police Service[70]
- Luseland Police Service[71]
- Moose Jaw Police Service[72]
- Prince Albert Police Service[73]
- Regina Police Service[74]
- Saskatoon Police Service[75]
- Vanscoy Police Service[76]
- Weyburn Police Service[77]
Special constabularies
- Candle Lake Regional Special Constable Service[78]
- Lakeland District Protective Services[79]
- University of Saskatchewan Protective Services
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Saskatchewan Firearms Office
- Saskatchewan Corrections
- Animal Protection Officers
- Provincial Protective Services Branch
- Saskatchewan Highway Patrol
- Saskatchewan Sheriff Service
- Saskatchewan Conservation Officers
Yukon Territory
Civil law enforcement agencies
- Yukon Highway & Public Works - Carrier Compliance Division
- Yukon Sheriffs Office[80]
- Yukon Conservation Officer Service[81]
Indigenous police
See main article: Indigenous police in Canada.
Alberta
- Blood Tribe Police Service[82]
- North Peace Tribal Police Service
- Lakeshore Regional Police Service[83]
- Tsuu T'ina Nation Police Service
- Siksika Nation Police Service
British Columbia
Manitoba
- Manitoba First Nation Police Services - MFNPS (Formally: Dakota Ojibway Police Services - DOPS) serves the following areas:
- Long Plain First Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, Swan Lake First Nation, Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation and Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Ontario
Self-administered police services
• Akwasasne Mohawk Police• Anishinabek Police Service• Lac-Seul Police Service• Nishnawbe-Aski Police• Rama Police Service• Six Nations Police Service• Treaty Three Police Service• U.C.C.M Anishnaabe Police Service• Wikwemikong Police Service
OPP-administered police services
The OPP administers OFNPA funding and provides administrative support for First Nations whose choice of policing arrangement under the federal First Nations Policing Program takes one of two forms: an OPP-administered OFNPA option; or OPP policing under a Stream Two Agreement.
• Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (White Fish Lake) Police• Batchewana First Nations Police• Bear Island Police• Neyaashiinigmiing Police; formerly Cape Croker Police• Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Police• Georgina Island Police• Hiawatha First Nation Police• K.I Police (Big Trout Lake)• Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek Police (Gull Bay)• Lake Helen Reserve Red Rock Band Police• Mississauga First Nation Police• Moravian Reserve Police• Munsee-Delaware Police• Oneida Police• Pikangikum Police• Tyendinaga Police• Walpole Island First Nations Police
Quebec
• Services de police Wôlinak et d’Odanak • Services de police Timiskaming• Kahnawake Peacekeepers • Services de police Naskapis• Services de police Gesgapegiag• Services de police Eagle Village• Services de police Kitigan Zibi• Service de police Kebaowek• Services de police Listuguj• Services de police Essipit• Services de police Eeyou Eenou• Service de police Nunavik• Sécurité publique d' Opitciwan• Sécurité publique d' Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam• Sécurité publique d' Pessamit• Sécurité publique d' Wemotaci• Sécurité publique d' Mashteuiatsh• Sécurité publique d' Pakua Shipi• Service de police de Manawan• Service de police de Pikogan• Service de police Lac-Simon
Saskatchewan
- File Hill First Nations Police Service[85]
Fictional
In various television and film media, producers may decide to utilise fictitious law enforcement agencies for the purpose of artistic license or copyright reasons.
Federal
- Immigration and Customs Security (Sécurité de l'immigration et des douanes) - the federal agency that is the main focus of the CBC television series The Border. Created to deal with trans-border matters including terrorism and smuggling, it operates under the supervision of Public Safety Canada. Throughout the series the agency liaises with both the Department of Homeland Security and MI6.
- Royal Canadian Federal Police, RCFP (Gendarmerie Royale Fédérale du Canada, GRFC) - national police service Sky Atlantic series Tin Star. Officers wear tan pants with a blue stripe, dark blue shirts with the service patch on either shoulder and black bulletproof vests with POLICE emblazoned on the front. It is a fictional version of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- Canada Border Patrol, CBP (Patrouille Frontalière Canadienne, PFC) - national border services agency featured in the Sky Atlantic series Tin Star. It is a fictional version of, and has similar uniforms to the Canada Border Services Agency.
- Canadian Federal Police Corps (Corps de la police Fédérale Canadianne), CFPC - national police force in the CBC Series Allegiance (2024) is a fictional version of the RCMP.
Provincial
Local
- Algonquin Bay Police Department - police service in the CTV-Super Écran crime drama Cardinal, with jurisdiction in the fictional city of Algonquin Bay, Ontario.
- Little Big Bear Police Service - police service in the Sky Atlantic series Tin Star, covering the fictional town of Little Big Bear, Alberta.
- Metropolitan Law Enforcement - police service in the Global series Rookie Blue. The former is printed on the police force logo, however it is often referred to as the "Metropolitan Police" in show. The show is set in Toronto, but does not make overt references to the city until later seasons. The real life counterpart would be the Toronto Police Service.
- Metropolitan Police - police service in the CTV series Flashpoint and CBC Television series Cracked. A generic fictionalised version of the Toronto Police Service, it is home to the Strategic Response Unit (itself based on the Emergency Task Force (Toronto Police Service)).
- Regional Police - regional police service in the Showcase TV series Trailer Park Boys. The service is shown to have a Parking Enforcement Division additionally. It is a fictional/generic version of the Halifax Regional Police.
- Reverie Ipowahtaman Police Service - aboriginal police service in the Sky Atlantic series Tin Star. It covers the fictional Ipowahtaman First Nations reserve in Reverie, northern Alberta.
- St John's Police Department - police service in the CITY TV series Hudson and Rex. The actual St John's police department is the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
- Service de Police de Grande Ourse (Great Bear Police Service) - the local police service in the 2004 Radio-Canada TV series Grande Ourse. It covers the fictional mining town of Grande Ourse (Great Bear) in northern Quebec.
- Service de Police Métropolitain (Metropolitan Police Service) - police service used in the 1998 Radio-Canada TV series Caserne 24, the 2011 Radio-Canada and 2014 Bravo-CTV series 19-2. In Caserne 24 it is the generic police service for the unnamed city the show is set in. In both versions of 19-2 it is a fictitious, generic version of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, with the uniforms and police vehicles bearing strong resemblance to the real Montreal.
- Municipal Police Service - the police service covering Dog River, Saskatchewan, the fictional town in the CTV series Corner Gas. Generally just a two person police force, who do mostly Traffic Work. The Police Agency that would actually patrol the area would be the Royal Canadian Mounted Police .
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Police in Canada. 2022-07-02. The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- Web site: Appointment of Officers and designation as provincial offences officers. 2020-10-02. 2022-07-05. Toronto Region Conservation Authority.
- Web site: Regulations and Procedures Manual. 2022-07-10. Vancouver Police Department.
- Web site: Parking Enforcement. 2022-07-10. Toronto Police Service.
- Web site: Protective Services. Rural Municipality of Cornwallis.
- Web site: Ontario's 'Crypto King' arrested after Durham police's largest fraud investigation ever. CBC News.
- Web site: Ontario Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. CanLII.
- Web site: Quebec Police Act. LegisQuebec.
- Web site: 2020 Independent Review of the Manitoba Police Services Act, 2009. Community Safety Knowledge Alliance.
- Web site: Niagara Parks Police. NiagaraParks.com. April 11, 2017.
- Web site: Protective Services. 2024-05-24. University of Saskatchewan.
- Web site: Comment: B.C. must not forget our special provincial constables. 2022-05-03. 2022-07-03. Times Colonist.
- Web site: 6 new officers finish training, ready to start with Sask. Highway Patrol. 2024-01-17. Global News.
- Moore v R [1975] 5 W.W.R. 176.
- R. vs Jones [1975] 5 W.W.R. 197.
- Web site: Police Services Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15, s. 15 (2).
- Web site: Police Services Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15, s. 15 (1).
- Web site: Designation of Provincial Offences Officer. Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
- Web site: Roles and Duties - PBLE Peace Officer. 2024-01-17. Prairie Bylaw Enforcement.
- Web site: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. 2022-07-10. Government of Canada. 12 July 2019 .
- Web site: CFPM - Mission and Vision. 2012-04-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120223204854/http://www.vcds-vcemd.forces.gc.ca/cfpm-gpfc/apm-agp/mv-eng.asp. 2012-02-23 .
- News: Why are Canadian police chiefs refusing to accept military sexual-assault cases?. 2022-07-11. Globe and Mail. 31 May 2022 . Craig . Elaine .
- Web site: Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Railway Safety Act. Legislative Services. Branch. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. 28 August 2019 .
- News: Can CN Rail Police really issue speeding tickets?. 2022-07-11. Globe and Mail. 30 June 2015 . Tchir . Jason .
- Web site: CN Police Service.
- Web site: CP Police Service.
- Web site: Rail Policing Security. 8 May 2014. VIA Rail.
- Web site: Reporting an Offence. 2022-07-06. Canada Border Services Agency. 27 January 2011 .
- Web site: Agency. Canada Revenue. 2018-10-04. The CRA's criminal investigations process. 2020-07-25. aem.
- Web site: Our mandate. 2022-07-06. Competition Bureau Canada. 24 February 2020 .
- http://www.ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/default.asp?lang=en&n=2140D763-1 Environment Canada – Acts, Regulations and Agreements – Enforcement – Acts and Regulations
- Web site: Fisheries enforcement. 2022-07-06. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 23 July 2007 .
- Web site: The role of park wardens in conserving the Rouge. 2022-07-06. Parks Canada. 17 August 2021 .
- Web site: Transport Canada's Enforcement Policy. 2022-07-06. Transport Canada. 10 July 2019 .
- Web site: Safety on Transit. Calgary Transit.
- Web site: Community Standards Enforcement Officers. City of Edmonton.
- Web site: Sheriffs. 2022-07-04. Government of Alberta.
- Web site: Municipal Policing in the Lower Mainland District of British Columbia. Steve Sweeney. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.
- Web site: Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. 17. July 8, 2022.
- Web site: Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia. 2022-07-08. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – BC.
- Web site: About Us. 2022-07-11. Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
- Web site: B.C. legislature guards to be armed with guns. 2014-11-05. 2022-07-04. Times Colonist.
- Web site: General. Ministry of Attorney. Community Safety Unit - Province of British Columbia. 2021-03-13. www2.gov.bc.ca.
- Web site: Conservation Officer Service. 2024-05-24. British Columbia.
- B.C. Corrections: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/corrections
- Web site: Ministry of Forests. Lands. Strategy. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Natural Resource Officers - Province of British Columbia. 2021-03-13. www2.gov.bc.ca.
- Web site: BC Parks Blog . How to Become a BC Parks Ranger . 10 February 2016 . Government of British Columbia .
- Web site: Infrastructure. Ministry of Transportation and. Passenger Transportation Compliance & Enforcement - Province of British Columbia. 2021-03-13. www2.gov.bc.ca.
- Altona Police Service: https://altona.ca/police/
- Brandon Police Service: http://police.brandon.ca/
- Morden Police Service: http://mordenpolice.com/
- Sainte-Anne Police Service: https://www.steannepolice.ca/
- Victoria Beach Police: http://www.vbpolice.ca/
- Winkler Police Service: http://www.winklerpolice.ca/
- Web site: Safety Officers patrolling Winnipeg’s streets and Transit buses. City of Winnipeg.
- Motor Carrier Enforcement: https://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/mcd/mce/
- Web site: Campus Enforcement and Patrol Services. Memorial University.
- Web site: Municipal Enforcement City of Iqaluit. 2021-03-13. www.iqaluit.ca.
- Web site: Nunavut Courts - Sheriff. 2021-03-13. www.nunavutcourts.ca.
- Web site: Aylmer Police Station. 2021-03-13. www.aylmerpolice.com. en-US.
- Web site: Our History. Cornwall Police Service.
- Web site: Customer Protective Officers. GO Transit.
- Web site: At a Glance: TTC Special Constables. TTC.
- Web site: Special Constables. OC Transpo.
- Web site: Transit Enforcement and Security. York Region Transit.
- Web site: 2022 Annual Report - University Affairs Board. University of Toronto Campus Safety.
- https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2024/june/21/saskatchewan-marshals-service-update-and-appointment-of-new-deputy-chief-marshal/
- Web site: Corman Park Police Service | Rural Municipality of Corman Park, SK .
- https://dalmeny.ca/p/police-and-fire
- https://estevanpolice.ca/
- Web site: Services .
- https://mjpolice.ca/
- https://papolice.ca/
- https://reginapolice.ca/
- https://saskatoonpolice.ca/
- https://www.vanscoyrmpolice.ca/
- https://weyburnpolice.ca/
- Web site: Police Services. 2024-05-27. Resort Village of Candle Lake.
- https://www.ld-ps.ca/
- Yukon Sheriffs now armed: https://www.yukon-news.com/news/sheriffs-now-armed/
- Yukon Department of Environment - Conservation Officer Service: https://yukon.ca/en/department-environment
- Blood Tribe Police Service: http://www.bloodtribepolice.com
- Lakeshore Regional Police Service: http://www.lakeshoreregionalpolice.com/
- Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service: http://www.stlatlimxpolice.ca/
- File Hills First Nations Police Service: http://www.filehillspolice.ca
