Policy 16.1 - Designation of Forest Officers

Effective Date: 01-June-95
Responsible Branch: Compliance and Enforcement Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy covers the designation of Forest Officers by the Minister of Forests, Chief Forester, or Regional Manager as allowed by the Forest Act, Range Act, and pursuant regulations.

Purpose

To ensure that Forest Officers exercising authority as provided for under the Forest Act, Range Act, and pursuant regulations are designated for that purpose.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

"Forest Officer" means a person employed in the Ministry of Forests who is designated by name or title to be a Forest Officer by the Minister, Chief Forester, or a Regional Manager

Policy

It is Ministry policy that:

Power to Designate

The power to designate Forest Officers is restricted to Regional Managers, the Chief Forester, or the Minister of Forests.

Recommendation for Designation

Personnel employed in district offices will be recommended by the District Manager for designation as a Forest Officer. Personnel employed in a regional office will be recommended by the appropriate Staff Manager for designation as a Forest Officer. These recommendations will be forwarded to the Regional Manager on an FS 835, Forest Officer Designation form, for approval.

Recommendations of branch employees for Forest Officer designation will be forwarded through the appropriate Branch Director for their recommendation, then forwarded to the Chief Forester. Designation of Forest Officers by the Chief Forester or Minister of Forests will normally be on an FS 835, Forest Officer Designation form, but may be in writing with application to a position, or person exercising a function, as opposed to an individual.

Recommendations of protection staff for Forest Officer designation will be forwarded, by the Fire Centre Manager of each Fire Control Centre, to Protection Branch. Protection Branch will forward these recommendations to the Chief Forester for designation.

Recommendations for Forest Officer designations should be made by position or functional job title, may alternatively be made by name, but should NOT be made by both name and title.

Authority upon Designation

Upon designation as a Forest Officer there is no inherent authority.

Designation of personnel as a Forest Officer does not allow the execution of powers. Specific authorization by the District Manager, Regional Manager, Chief Forester, or Minister of Forests on the FS 836, Forest Officer Authorization form, is required prior to exercising Forest Officer authority.

Minimum requirements

Forest Officer designation will be restricted to employees of the Ministry of Forests who have:

• demonstrated a clear understanding of the Acts and regulations
• attended relevant training which is normally available
• job duties or functions requiring designation

Monitoring and Tracking

Forest Officer designations of district, regional, and branch staff will normally be tracked by the originating office. All copies should be kept in a central file in the originating office.

Originals of all FS 835, Forest Officer Designation forms, will be kept in a central file in the signatory's office.

A review of Forest Officer designation to ensure consistency with minimum requirements will normally be done on an annual basis concurrent with personnel performance planning and review.

Renewals

It is recommended that designations be reviewed on an annual basis concurrent with Personnel Performance Planning and Review. Designation by a Regional Manager, Chief Forester, or Minister of Forests who have been succeeded remains valid until rescinded.

Renewal is not required unless one of the following occurs:

• transfer to another district, region, or division
• transfer to a different function or position when designation is made on that basis
• the designee’s job description no longer requires designation as a Forest Officer

Area of Jurisdiction

Forest Officer designation by a Regional Manager is only valid in that region, except for temporary assignment not exceeding six months. Temporary transfer of Forest Officer status between regions should be acknowledged by both parties in writing.

Designation by the Chief Forester or Minister of Forests is valid across the province unless specified otherwise.

Designations by the Chief Forester or Minister of Forests to a position or person acting in a particular function remain valid until rescinded.

References

• Forest Act
• Range Act