Environment Canada has already trained 43 new enforcement officers who have completed Basic Enforcement Training and will soon be deployed across the country – likely in the Fall.

It’s related to the Federal government’s push this year to increase fines and expand enforcement tools aimed at ensuring a greater respect of environmental laws and regulations. The government this year amended nine environmental laws to achieve this.

The enforcement officers are being given new powers to investigate cases. At the same time, the courts have new sentencing guidelines that ensure penalties reflect the gravity of offences.

The new rules also aim to deal with environmental offenders by:
* specifying aggravating factors, like causing damage to wildlife or environmental damage that is irreparable;
* allowing for the suspension and cancellation of their permits upon conviction;
* forcing corporate offenders to report convictions to shareholders; and
* mandating a public shaming of corporate offences on a public registry.

One thing about the Conservative government in Ottawa: they’re comfortable with the notion of law enforcement.

You might have heard that under a new federal Environmental Enforcement Act introduced this week, corporate polluters would risk multi-million dollar fines — as high as $6 million. Even smaller companies would be exposed, albeit to lesser fines ($25,000 to $4 million).

If passed the new law would also subject them to a public shaming by creating a registry for Canadians who want to check their environmental records.

Its adoption would amend nine existing laws, principally the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), to harmonize environmental penalties.