Q. What is a "Park Ranger" vs a "Conservation Officer?"

A. A Park Ranger works in an Ontario government owned campground or public park. Conservation Officers work in Provincial Parks. Examples would include St Lawrence Parks vs Algonquin Park.

Q. Are Park Rangers armed or required to take Defensive Tactics training?

A. Some parks issue various levels of P.P.E. to its officers and require them to take some level of Defensive Tactics training for self defense or the defense of others.

Given that Park Rangers do not have a mandate to make arrests, nor are specifically tasked with enforcing legislation that has use of force authorities or arrest authorities in them, these are routinely left to the police to deal with.

Q. Is this certificate/accreditation recognized in Ontario?

A. We are official Vendors of Record for the Ontario government to train Provincial Offences Officers and any agency who is funded or partially funded by the government. Lesson plans and materials are vetted and approved by each Ministry based on its needs. 

Credibility and due diligence is the cornerstone for any training accreditation, not who does or does not “recognize” the certificate. An employer can choose to recognize one training provider and not another, it is their choice. If your course certification is questioned, simply have the employer contact us for assistance in the due diligence process in support of your training.

Q. What is the difference between this training course and those offered via some Provincial Colleges or Associations?

A. This identical course is offered out via the Ontario Provincial College Continuing Education system via their portals. We are the authors of those courses and they are completed on our learning management system through links that tie two systems together. Registration is done via the colleges and payment is made to them. Certificates are issued under the college certification system and printed by you at the end of your course.

Other similar courses are available via Provincial Associations however they are not vetted via the Ontario government nor a part of the College and Universities systems currently. Many employers do insist on these courses or accreditations in lieu of ours or the College accreditations, but again, this is the employers choice. 

Q. Will I get a certificate once I complete the course?

A. Yes. Once you successfully complete and submit ALL the assignments and the online quizzes, you will get a certificate, suitable for framing.

Q. What is a M.L.E.O.?

A. The term is sourced in section 15 of the Ontario Police Services Act. It stands for Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, a term that is unique in Canada as it ONLY applies in Ontario.

Q. What is a “Provincial Offences Officer”(P.O.O.) and what is the relationship to being appointed as a M.L.E.O.?

A.  A P.O.O. is a person designated pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act. This legislation is the enabling statute that outlines the process for all Provincial offences prosecuted via the lower courts. It is the overriding Provincial legislation that governs all Municipal Bylaws IF they are using this system. Some Municipalities have gone to an Administrative Monetary Penalty system instead of using the P.O.A. This is explained in the course as to how this works.

FACT: EVERY M.L.E.O. is a P.O.O. You would have to be in order to write tickets and process them according to law. As an aside, not every P.O.O. is also a M.L.E.O. For example, Provincial Ministry officers who do not enforce anything at the Municipal level are not M.L.E.O.’s. They have no need to be as they only enforce Provincial laws within their Ministry.

Q. What is the difference between a “Bylaw Officer” and a M.L.E.O.?”

A. Essentially nothing, it’s just semantics and labels. They are one and the same. Every Ontario M.L.E.O. enforces Municipal Bylaws. Parking, Animal Control, Property Standards etc are all different areas of Bylaw Enforcement. Some use the term M.L.E.O. while others use the term Bylaw Officer.

Q. Is it true that some Municipalities are outsourcing some Bylaw Enforcement to Security companies?

A. Yes. Some smaller Municipalities are not only out sourcing Parking Enforcement but also General Bylaw services and Animal Control.

Q. Is M.L.E.O. officer training, including General Bylaws etc, the same as what Police Officers get at O.P.C. (Ontario Police College)?

A. Yes. Every police officer in Ontario is also a M.L.E.O. and P.O.O. Their appointment is much broader in terms of what legislation they can enforce of course, but the basic content is the same. Police do not get much involved in local Property Standards, Licensing, etc however they are empowered to write Parking Tickets, deal with Noise Bylaw complaints, Animal Bylaw offences.