Mr. Speaker, park wardens in our national parks have a proud tradition of service. The decision by Parks Canada to replace wardens with RCMP officers at double the cost of fully training and equipping a park warden does not resolve the problem of unsafe working conditions. Issuing shotguns to patrolling wardens only heightens the potential for violence when a non-confrontational approach is needed.
The problem is that you cannot look at the activity to determine the danger. Risk is determined by a subject's behaviour. Therefore, being told to back away by Parks Canada management is not appropriate.
The pending decision to locate a detachment of RCMP officers in every national park in Canada is costly and unnecessary and, in the case of Ontario and Quebec, an unacceptable intrusion into provincial jurisdiction.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage should do the right thing and allow park wardens the right to bear sidearms.