Connect: Why aren't bylaw officers under provincial control?

yorkregion.com
By Lisa Queen
Aug. 28, 2017

A reader asked:

Why are municipal bylaw officers allowed to wear the title of provincial offences officer yet there is no provincial oversight or control?

The answer from Newmarket’s bylaw department:

Municipal bylaw officers are allowed to wear the title of provincial offences officer even though there is no provincial oversight or control simply because under the Provincial Offences Act, the definition of a provincial offences officer is as follows:

(a) a police officer,

(b) a constable appointed pursuant to any act,

(c) a municipal law enforcement officer referred to in subsection 101 (4) of the Municipal Act, 2001 or in subsection 79 (1) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, while in the discharge of his or her duties,

(d) a by-law enforcement officer of any municipality or of any local board of any municipality, while in the discharge of his or her duties,

(e) an officer, employee or agent of any municipality or of any local board of any municipality whose responsibilities include the enforcement of a by-law, an Act or a regulation under an Act, while in the discharge of his or her duties.