Newfoundland and Labrador proposes tougher fines, enforcement changes to Wild Life Act

The provincial government has introduced proposed amendments to strengthen enforcement and increase penalties under the Wild Life Act.

Forestry, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pleaman Forsey said the changes are intended to better equip resource enforcement officers, improve public safety, and deter illegal activities affecting wildlife and endangered species.

Among the proposed changes is a significant increase in fines for offences such as resisting, obstructing or impersonating a wildlife officer. Current penalties of up to $500 would rise to a range of $500 to $25,000, while the maximum jail term of six months would remain unchanged.

Fines for big-game offences would also increase. A first conviction, which currently carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 or up to six months in jail, would rise to between $2,000 and $25,000, with the same potential jail time.

Repeat offenders would face steeper penalties as well. For a second or subsequent conviction within five years, fines would increase from the current $3,000–$10,000 range to between $6,000 and $25,000. The existing requirement of one to six months’ imprisonment would remain in place.

The amendments would also expand licence suspensions, prohibiting anyone convicted of an offence from holding any type of hunting licence for five years, rather than limiting restrictions to specific species such as moose or caribou.

In addition to tougher penalties, the proposed legislation would clarify and modernize the responsibilities of resource enforcement officers to improve consistency and interpretation of the law.

The government said public consultations on the proposed changes indicated overall support for increasing fines and strengthening enforcement provisions.