List of law enforcement agencies in Canada

Last updated
Police car in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (November 2023).jpg
UofTCampusSafetyVehicle.jpg
Calgary Bylaw service Ford PIU during 2017 Calgary Pride Parade.jpg
Vehicles belonging to all three types of law enforcement agency in Canada: a police service in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; a special constabulary in Toronto, Ontario; and a civil law enforcement agency in Calgary, Alberta.

Law enforcement in Canada is the responsibility of police services, special constabularies, and civil law enforcement agencies, which are operated by every level of government, some private and Crown corporations, and First Nations. Canada's provinces are responsible for the development and maintenance of police forces and special constabularies, [1] while civil law enforcement is the responsibility of the level or agency of government that developed those laws, and civil law enforcement agencies may be given a range of powers to enforce those laws. [2] As such, the exact duties and authority of individual law enforcement agencies vary significantly.

Contents

Police services may take on additional duties such as municipal by-law enforcement, [3] [4] and police services range in size from small, one-officer forces that are generally limited to enforcing provincial and municipal legislation to large organizations charged with investigating complex financial crimes. [5] [6] In Ontario, police services are obliged to provide at least five core police services — crime prevention, law enforcement, maintenance of the public peace, emergency response, and assistance to victims of crime — to fulfill the province's requirement for "adequate and effective policing," [7] while in neighbouring Quebec, the responsibilities of a police force are dependent on the population it serves. [8] Other jurisdictions, such as Manitoba and British Columbia, do not define adequate and effective policing, although individual regulations in both of those provinces set out basic responsibilities of police forces. [9]

Although special constabularies exist in some form in almost every province, they are referred to by a number of different titles and carry different levels of authority between provinces and agencies. The Niagara Parks Police Service, for example, employs armed officers responsible for providing almost all police services on and in relation to lands owned by the Niagara Parks Commission; [10] while the University of Saskatchewan Protective Services Division's unarmed officers are limited to enforcing University by-laws, some provincial laws, and limited sections of the Criminal Code. [11] The exact definition of a special constabulary also varies province-to-province, and some civil law enforcement agencies, usually those whose staff are designated as special constables, are also sometimes considered special constabularies. [12] Generally, a special constabulary is any law enforcement organization composed of special constables, peace officers, or safety officers (as opposed to police officers) with a mandate for criminal law enforcement and/or general peacekeeping and security.

The powers of civil law enforcement agencies also vary significantly. Some, like the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, have the authority to enforce criminal legislation in addition to their primary mandate to enforce civil legislation, [13] while others are limited to enforcing only a handful of by-laws or provincial acts. Regardless of the breadth of their legislative authority, all civil law enforcement officers in Canada are considered peace officers for the purposes of carrying out their duties, [14] [15] [16] and may be variously appointed as special constables, [12] municipal law enforcement officers, [17] provincial offences officers, [18] or generically as peace officers. [19]

For the purposes of this list, agencies are grouped by their primary responsibilities and legislative definitions.

Federal

Police services

Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Horseback in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Ottawa) Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Horseback in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Ottawa).JPG
Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Horseback in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Ottawa)
A Canadian Forces Military Police Chevrolet Milverado drives through Toronto. Canadian Forces Military Police Chevrolet SUV.jpg
A Canadian Forces Military Police Chevrolet Milverado drives through Toronto.

Railway police

The federal government, under the Railway Safety Act, authorizes any railway in Canada to request that a superior court judge appoint railway employees as police officers. [23] These officers are hired, trained, and employed by the railway for the purposes of preventing crimes against the company and the protection of goods, materials, and public rail transit being moved through the railway network, and have nationwide jurisdiction within 500 metres of a railway line or as it relates to railway operations. [24] There are three such federally-authorized police forces in the country:

Civil law enforcement agencies

Alberta

Police services

Mounted members of the Calgary Police Service Calgary police on horseback.JPG
Mounted members of the Calgary Police Service

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

Alberta Sheriffs Branch prisoner transport van Alberta Sheriff Ford Transit Van.jpg
Alberta Sheriffs Branch prisoner transport van

British Columbia

Police services

A Vancouver Police Department Dodge Charger PPV attends a call for service. VPD Dodge Charger.jpg
A Vancouver Police Department Dodge Charger PPV attends a call for service.

Designated Policing Units

A Metro Vancouver Transit Police Ford Police Interceptor Utility on patrol. TPoliceExplorer.jpg
A Metro Vancouver Transit Police Ford Police Interceptor Utility on patrol.

In British Columbia, the Solicitor General may establish a "designated policing unit" to provide specialized police services in a geographic area alongside the police service(s) of jurisdiction. [38] These forces answer to a board composed of representatives selected directly by the Solicitor General, and may include community representatives, representatives from area police services, or representatives from the corporations funding the designated policing unit's operations. [38] [39] There are three such units in the province:

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

A British Columbia Sheriff Service Ford F-150 Lightning. BCSS FORD F150 lIghtning new branding pkg. 01 May 2023.jpg -2.jpg
A British Columbia Sheriff Service Ford F-150 Lightning.

Manitoba

Police services

A Winkler Police officer surveys the crowd at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Winkler Police (4368236999).jpg
A Winkler Police officer surveys the crowd at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

New Brunswick

Police services

Two Saint John Police Force cruisers at a call for service. Saint john police vehicles.jpg
Two Saint John Police Force cruisers at a call for service.

Civil law enforcement agencies

Newfoundland and Labrador

A Royal Newfoundland Constabulary cruiser at a call for service. Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Ford Police Interceptor Sedan.jpg
A Royal Newfoundland Constabulary cruiser at a call for service.

Police services

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

Northwest Territories

Civil law enforcement agencies

Nova Scotia

Police services

Halifax Regional Police headquarters. Halifax Regional Police headquarters.jpg
Halifax Regional Police headquarters.

Civil law enforcement agencies

Nunavut

Civil law enforcement agencies

Ontario

Police services

An Ontario Provincial Police Chevrolet Tahoe on patrol in Guelph. Ontario Provincial Police Chevrolet Tahoe 6-584.jpg
An Ontario Provincial Police Chevrolet Tahoe on patrol in Guelph.
A Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Ford F-150. 2021 Ford F-150 XL Police Responder in Agate Black Metallic (Sault Ste. Marie Police -12), Front Left, 11-11-2022.jpg
A Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Ford F-150.

Special constabularies

GO-Transit-Special-Constable-Vehicle-at-Hamilton-City-Hall-April-2018 GO-Transit-Special-Constable-Vehicle-at-Hamilton-City-Hall-April-2018.jpg
GO-Transit-Special-Constable-Vehicle-at-Hamilton-City-Hall-April-2018

Civil law enforcement agencies

Prince Edward Island

Police services

A special events cruiser owned by the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Police. Old-style police car in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (November 2023).jpg
A special events cruiser owned by the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Police.

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

Quebec

Police services

A Surete du Quebec black-and-white Ford Police Interceptor Utility. Surete du Quebec black and white Ford Police Interceptor Utility.jpg
A Sûreté du Québec black-and-white Ford Police Interceptor Utility.
A Richelieu-Saint-Laurent police car RSL Police.JPG
A Richelieu-Saint-Laurent police car

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

Saskatchewan

Police services

Saskatoon Police Service headquarters. New Saskatoon police building.jpg
Saskatoon Police Service headquarters.

Special constabularies

Civil law enforcement agencies

Yukon Territory

Civil law enforcement agencies

Indigenous police

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

- Long Plain First Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, Swan Lake First Nation, Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation and Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

Ontario

Self-administered police services

• Akwasasne Mohawk Police • Anishinabek Police Service • Lac-Seul Police Service • Nishnawbe-Aski Police • Rama Police Service • Six Nations Police Service • Treaty Three Police Service • U.C.C.M Anishnaabe Police Service • Wikwemikong Police Service

OPP-administered police services

The OPP administers OFNPA funding and provides administrative support for First Nations whose choice of policing arrangement under the federal First Nations Policing Program takes one of two forms: an OPP-administered OFNPA option; or OPP policing under a Stream Two Agreement.

• Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (White Fish Lake) Police • Batchewana First Nations Police • Bear Island Police • Neyaashiinigmiing Police; formerly Cape Croker Police • Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Police • Georgina Island Police • Hiawatha First Nation Police • K.I Police ( Big Trout Lake) • Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek Police (Gull Bay) • Lake Helen Reserve Red Rock Band Police • Mississauga First Nation Police • Moravian Reserve Police • Munsee-Delaware Police • Oneida Police • Pikangikum Police • Tyendinaga Police • Walpole Island First Nations Police

Quebec

• Services de police Wôlinak et d’Odanak • Services de police Timiskaming • Kahnawake Peacekeepers • Services de police Naskapis • Services de police Gesgapegiag • Services de police Eagle Village • Services de police Kitigan Zibi • Service de police Kebaowek • Services de police Listuguj • Services de police Essipit • Services de police Eeyou Eenou • Service de police Nunavik • Sécurité publique d' Opitciwan • Sécurité publique d' Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam • Sécurité publique d' Pessamit • Sécurité publique d' Wemotaci • Sécurité publique d' Mashteuiatsh • Sécurité publique d' Pakua Shipi • Service de police de Manawan • Service de police de Pikogan • Service de police Lac-Simon

Saskatchewan

Fictional

In various television and film media, producers may decide to utilise fictitious law enforcement agencies for the purpose of artistic license or copyright reasons.

Federal


    Provincial

    Local

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ontario Provincial Police</span> Provincial law enforcement agency for Ontario, Canada

    The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is the provincial police service of Ontario, Canada. The OPP patrols provincial highways and waterways; protects provincial government buildings and officials, with the exception of the legislative precinct; patrols unincorporated areas in northern Ontario; provides training, operational support, and funding to some Indigenous police forces; and investigates complex or multijurisdictional crimes across the province. The OPP also has a number of local mandates through contracts with municipal governments and First Nations, where it acts as the local police force and provides front-line services.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit police</span> Law enforcement personnel employed by a transit agency

    Transit police are specialized police agencies employed either by a common carrier, such as a transit district, railway, railroad, bus line, or another mass transit provider or municipality, county, district, or state.

    Special police usually describes a police force or unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or from other police in the same force, although there is no consistent international definition. A special constable, in most cases, is not a member of a special police force (SPF); in countries in the Commonwealth of Nations and often elsewhere, a special constable is a voluntary or part-time member of a national or local police force or a person involved in law enforcement who is not a police officer but has some of the powers of a police officer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Mounted Police Protective Policing</span> Protective services by the RCMP

    The Protective Policing Service, operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provides security details for domestic and foreign VIPs when abroad.

    A law enforcement officer (LEO), or peace officer in North American English, is a public-sector or private-sector employee whose duties primarily involve the enforcement of laws, protecting life & property, keeping the peace, and other public safety related duties. Law enforcement officers are designated certain powers & authority by law to allow them to carry out their responsibilities.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit Enforcement Unit</span> Special constabulary in Ontario, Canada

    The Transit Enforcement Unit is a special constabulary maintained by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. First established in 1997, the Unit consists of special constables and provincial offences officers, referred to internally as transit fare inspectors. The unit's special constables have the full powers of a police power on or in relation to TTC property, and, as of 2023, the unit employs 101 special constables out of an authorized complement of 145.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Vancouver Transit Police</span> Police force for the Metro Vancouver public transit system in Canada

    The Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP), previously the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service and formally the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (SCBCTAPS), is the police force for TransLink, the public transit system of the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Indigenous police in Canada</span>

    Indigenous police services in Canada are police forces under the control of a First Nation or Inuit government.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Law enforcement in Canada</span> Overview of law enforcement in Canada

    Law enforcement in Canada is the responsibility of police services, special constabularies, and civil law enforcement agencies, which are operated by every level of government, some private and Crown corporations, and First Nations. In contrast to the United States or Mexico, and with the exception of the Unité permanente anticorruption in Quebec and the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, there are no organizations dedicated exclusively to the investigation of criminal activity in Canada. Criminal investigations are instead conducted by police services, which maintain specialized criminal investigation units in addition to their mandate for emergency response and general community safety.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia Sheriff Service</span> Law enforcement agency for BC courts

    The British Columbia Sheriff Service (BCSS) is a provincial law enforcement agency overseen by the Ministry of the Attorney General in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1857, it is the oldest law enforcement agency in the province. Sheriffs are provincial peace officers appointed under the BC Sheriff Act and BC Police Act with authority to enforce all relevant federal and provincial acts including the criminal code throughout British Columbia while in the lawful execution of their duties.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bylaw enforcement officer</span> Law enforcement officer responsible for enforcing local ordinance

    A bylaw enforcement officer is an employee of a municipality, county or regional district, charged with the enforcement of local ordinance—bylaws, laws, codes, or regulations enacted by local governments. Bylaw enforcement officers often work closely with police and other law enforcement agencies, but are generally not considered emergency services.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Sheriffs Branch</span> Canadian law enforcement agency

    The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is a provincial law enforcement agency overseen by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services of the province of Alberta, Canada. Under the authority of the Peace Officer Act, Alberta Sheriffs are provincial peace officers with jurisdiction over the province of Alberta. The premier of Alberta has the authority to grant emergency police powers to all Alberta sheriffs during major emergencies within the province. The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is the largest sheriff service in Canada.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Integrated Security Unit</span>

    Integrated Security Unit (ISU) is a joint-services infrastructure security unit created to secure major events in Canada. This administrative and operational entity was first created by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 2003.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Special constable</span> Auxiliary or specialized law enforcement officer

    A special constable or special police constable can refer to an auxiliary or part-time law enforcement officer or a person who is granted certain (special) police powers.

    The Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal is a Canadian service medal for peace officers. The medal honours 20 years of exemplary service by peace officers as designated by the governor general. It is, within the Canadian system of honours, the sixth and newest of the exemplary service medals.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the Independent Police Review Director</span>

    The Office of the Independent Police Review Director is an independent civilian oversight agency that handles public complaints regarding police conduct in the Canadian province of Ontario. The agency oversees municipal police services and the Ontario Provincial Police.

    The police in Canada's ranks differ according to the different police forces and depend on different laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.

    References

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    2. ↑ "Appointment of Officers and designation as provincial offences officers". Toronto Region Conservation Authority. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
    3. ↑ "Regulations and Procedures Manual" (PDF). Vancouver Police Department. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
    4. ↑ "Parking Enforcement". Toronto Police Service. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
    5. 1 2 "Protective Services". Rural Municipality of Cornwallis.
    6. ↑ "Ontario's 'Crypto King' arrested after Durham police's largest fraud investigation ever". CBC News.
    7. ↑ "Ontario Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019". CanLII.
    8. ↑ "Quebec Police Act". LegisQuebec.
    9. ↑ "2020 Independent Review of the Manitoba Police Services Act, 2009" (PDF). Community Safety Knowledge Alliance.
    10. 1 2 "Niagara Parks Police". NiagaraParks.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
    11. 1 2 "Protective Services". University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
    12. 1 2 "Comment: B.C. must not forget our special provincial constables". Times Colonist. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
    13. ↑ "6 new officers finish training, ready to start with Sask. Highway Patrol". Global News. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
    14. ↑ Moore v R [1975] 5 W.W.R. 176.
    15. ↑ R. vs Jones [1975] 5 W.W.R. 197.
    16. ↑ "Police Services Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15, s. 15 (2)".
    17. ↑ "Police Services Act R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15, s. 15 (1)".
    18. ↑ "Designation of Provincial Offences Officer" (PDF). Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
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    21. ↑ "CFPM - Mission and Vision". Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
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    26. ↑ "CP Police Service".
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    32. ↑ "Fisheries enforcement". Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
    33. ↑ "The role of park wardens in conserving the Rouge". Parks Canada. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
    34. ↑ "Transport Canada's Enforcement Policy". Transport Canada. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
    35. ↑ Calgary Transit. "Safety on Transit".
    36. ↑ City of Edmonton. "Community Standards Enforcement Officers".
    37. ↑ "Sheriffs". Government of Alberta. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
    38. 1 2 Steve Sweeney. "Municipal Policing in the Lower Mainland District of British Columbia" (PDF). Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.
    39. ↑ "Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. p. 17. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
    40. ↑ "Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia". Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – BC. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
    41. ↑ "About Us". Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
    42. 1 2 Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service: http://www.stlatlimxpolice.ca/
    43. ↑ "B.C. legislature guards to be armed with guns". Times Colonist. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
    44. ↑ General, Ministry of Attorney. "Community Safety Unit - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
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    46. ↑ B.C. Corrections: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/corrections
    47. ↑ Ministry of Forests, Lands; Strategy, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. "Natural Resource Officers - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
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    49. ↑ Infrastructure, Ministry of Transportation and. "Passenger Transportation Compliance & Enforcement - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
    50. ↑ Altona Police Service: https://altona.ca/police/
    51. ↑ Brandon Police Service: http://police.brandon.ca/
    52. ↑ Morden Police Service: http://mordenpolice.com/
    53. ↑ Sainte-Anne Police Service: https://www.steannepolice.ca/
    54. ↑ Victoria Beach Police: http://www.vbpolice.ca/
    55. ↑ Winkler Police Service: http://www.winklerpolice.ca/
    56. ↑ City of Winnipeg. "Safety Officers patrolling Winnipeg's streets and Transit buses".
    57. ↑ Motor Carrier Enforcement: https://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/mcd/mce/
    58. ↑ "Campus Enforcement and Patrol Services". Memorial University.
    59. ↑ "Municipal Enforcement | City of Iqaluit". www.iqaluit.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
    60. ↑ "Nunavut Courts - Sheriff". www.nunavutcourts.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
    61. ↑ "Aylmer Police Station". www.aylmerpolice.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
    62. ↑ "Our History". Cornwall Police Service.
    63. ↑ GO Transit. "Customer Protective Officers".
    64. ↑ TTC. "At a Glance: TTC Special Constables".
    65. ↑ OC Transpo. "Special Constables".
    66. ↑ York Region Transit. "Transit Enforcement and Security".
    67. ↑ "2022 Annual Report - University Affairs Board" (PDF). University of Toronto Campus Safety.
    68. ↑ "Corman Park Police Service | Rural Municipality of Corman Park, SK".
    69. ↑ https://dalmeny.ca/p/police-and-fire
    70. ↑ https://estevanpolice.ca/
    71. ↑ "Services".
    72. ↑ https://mjpolice.ca/
    73. ↑ https://papolice.ca/
    74. ↑ https://reginapolice.ca/
    75. ↑ https://saskatoonpolice.ca/
    76. ↑ https://www.vanscoyrmpolice.ca/
    77. ↑ https://weyburnpolice.ca/
    78. ↑ https://www.ld-ps.ca/
    79. ↑ Yukon Sheriffs now armed: https://www.yukon-news.com/news/sheriffs-now-armed/
    80. ↑ Yukon Department of Environment - Conservation Officer Service: https://yukon.ca/en/department-environment
    81. ↑ Blood Tribe Police Service: http://www.bloodtribepolice.com
    82. ↑ Lakeshore Regional Police Service: http://www.lakeshoreregionalpolice.com/
    83. ↑ File Hills First Nations Police Service: http://www.filehillspolice.ca
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