A search warrant was executed on the Athabasca County administration office Feb. 15 as part of a federal investigation alleging a violation of “habitat destruction” on protected lands.
According to a Feb. 16 Athabasca County press release, officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Wildlife Enforcement Directorate (WED) were conducting a search to “gather information.”
According to the release, the county is alleged to have “impacted lands” that are part of the Meanook National Wildlife Area as part of an Athabasca County road construction project along Township Road 652 adjacent to the wildlife area.
Athabasca County communications co-ordinator Karl Kopan said in an interview the construction occurred in summer 2017.
ECCC spokesperson Christelle Chartrand said in an e-mail statement a complaint was made in September.
“The purpose of this warrant was to gather information relating to an alleged violation of habitat destruction on the federally administered Meanook National Wildlife Area, located southwest of the Town of Athabasca, following a complaint in September 2017,” she wrote.
Kopan said the office closure was “unexpected” and employees were sent home while investigators conducted the search.
“The office closure was unexpected and it did impact services relating to departments within the administration office,” he said, adding essential service personnel and road maintenance employees were unaffected.
Kopan said the county has “fully co-operated” with WED officials in “resolving this matter, and will continue to do so.”
The press release said “to the best of Athabasca County’s knowledge” personal information of ratepayers was “not part of the information gathered.”
“When we are able to down the road we will share more information as we can,” Kopan said. “But like I mentioned it’s an ongoing legal matter, so details of the allegations are not being shared.”
Kopan declined an interview on behalf of county Reeve Doris Splane.
Chartrand said there are 54 National Wildlife Areas that have been established under the Canada Wildlife Act, which protect significant habitats for wildlife and plants. The ECCC is the federal department that administers both the Canada Wildlife Act and the National Wildlife Areas.
Chartrand did not respond to follow up questions, and said in her e-mail the matter is under investigation and the ECCC is unable to comment further.
According to the ECCC website, in 2015-2016 the WED conducted 240 investigations, resulting in 158 convictions and $1.1 million in penalties.
