Policy 16.27 - Special Investigation Units within the Compliance & Enforcement Program of the Ministry of Forests

Effective Date: 07-Nov-03
Responsible Branch: Compliance and Enforcement Branch, Regional and District Offices

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

The responsibilities and reporting relationships of Special Investigations Unit (SIU) staff of the C&E program within the Ministry of Forests.

Purpose

To identify the roles and responsibilities of SIU staff within the C&E program of the Ministry of Forests.

Definitions

"Branch Director" means the Director, Compliance & Enforcement Branch.

"DCL" means the District Compliance & Enforcement Leader.

"RCL" means the Regional Staff Manager who is the Regional Compliance Leader.

"RCEM" means the Regional Compliance & Enforcement Manager.

"SIU" means the Regional Special Investigations Unit(s) comprised of senior investigators from within the Ministry of Forests, including those Protection Program staff so designated as being within an SIU on a temporary basis.

"Strict confidentiality" means not to be shared with any other person.

Policy

It is Ministry of Forests' policy that:

General

SIU staff are a regional and provincial resource and are regionally based and funded. SIU staff report to the RCEM.

SIU staff are dedicated C&E program staff and may not be assigned duties outside the C&E regime other than as described in Policy 16.26, Management Roles and Responsibilities within the C&E program.

SIU staff may be assigned duties other than investigations, such as training, mentoring, quality assurance or other matters relevant to and within the C&E program mandate, by the RCL or the RCEM.

Investigations

SIU staff will focus on high impact contraventions or offences that are beyond a district C&E program's ability to manage due to their complexity, high profile, cross-district or regional nature, inter-agency requirements, or greater public interest.

SIU staff may conduct internal investigations of those Ministry staff perform a C&E function as deemed appropriate by the RCL and or the Branch Director.

The RCL and the RCEM will determine whether or not the SIU will lead an investigation. The RCL and RCEM will consult with the DCL prior to assigning an investigation within a forest district to SIU staff other than where doing so may compromise the integrity of an investigation. The DCL may request SIU assistance on a district led investigation.

SIU-led investigations may involve district C&E program staff on a case-by-case basis. The RCL and/or the RCEM will consult with the DCL prior to requesting district assistance for any SIU led investigation. Temporary reassignment of district C&E staff may occur pursuant to Policy 16.26, Management Roles and Responsibilities within the C&E program.

SIU staff from one region may conduct an investigation in another region. The RCEM or the RCL will only initiate a cross-regional SIU investigation after consultation with the Provincial Co-ordinator, Investigations and Enforcement, and the RCEM or RCL in the relevant region.

A SIU staff may request strict confidentiality with respect to any investigation, and the DCL, in consultation with the RCM or the RCL, will notify the RCM of his agreement to abide by the strict confidentiality of notification of any investigation. Confidentiality restrictions may apply to the District C&E program staff as well as other Ministry staff.

Procedures

The RCLs and the Branch Director may create procedures with respect to the assigning of SIU investigations; the management of SIU investigations; and the involvement of district C&E program staff in SIU investigations.

References

• Ministry Policy Manual, Resource Management.