P.E.I. conservation officer goes gunless in pilot project

As part of a pilot project, one of P.E.I.'s conservation officers is no longer carrying a gun when dealing with farmers.

Island conservation officers have carried firearms to protect themselves and others since 1999. But farmers have complained guns aren't needed when dealing with agricultural issues.

As part of the pilot project, which started in May, one of the Island's 10 Conservation officers is working unarmed and in plain clothes when dealing with farmers.

Aaron Campbell, the director of public safety on P.E.I., said the feedback about the initiative has been positive from both the farming community and the officer taking part.

"Well, anecdotally we're hearing some good things," he said.

"We're hearing there have been some areas where we've had good engagement with farmers in response to the concerns that they've had on their properties and the officer that has been assigned these duties."

P.E.I. Potato Board chair Alex Docherty said the organization has been been talking to government for several years about disarming conservation officers. He calls the pilot project a first step.

"I think it's a great thing," he said. "We were led to believe back in April there were going to be no guns on any of them, but at least they've come up with a pilot project ... I'm hoping after this year they'll see it was a positive thing and remove all the guns."

'A very, very concerning safety issue'

Debbie Bovyer, executive director of the P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees, said the union wasn't aware of the pilot project and she has concerns about the safety of unarmed officers in general.

"Our members have had arms drawn on them before and pointed at them so we think it's a very, very concerning safety issue for our members that most of the time are working alone."

The union wants the province to conduct a safety assessment of any policy changes.

In 2007, Canada's Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal in Ottawa ruled in a hearing involving national park wardens that side-arms are necessary and appropriate tools, even in situations where there is "statistically low probability of lethal assault against the officer."

Sidearms and protective vests remain standard equipment for conservation officers across Canada except in Newfoundland, where conservation officers who enforce farming, forestry and environment regulations no longer carry guns.

P.E.I.'s pilot project ends this fall.

The province said regardless of the outcome, conservation officers will continue to carry guns when enforcing hunting and fishing regulations, and other job duties not related to agriculture.