BC Conservation Officer Removed from Job for Not Killing Bear Cubs

The BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has learned this week that the BC Conservation Officer who was suspended for refusing to destroy bear cubs has been removed from his job.

Conservation Officer Bryce Casavant was originally suspended in July when he determined that a pair of black bear cubs should not be killed near Port Hardy. Casavant was placed under review by the Ministry of Environment following his actions to not destroy the cubs after they were reported on someone’s property.

“Our union has filed a grievance over Bryce Casavant’s original suspension. We are now in the process of filing a second grievance concerning his disciplinary transfer from the Conservation Officer Service,” said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. “Bryce Casavant was following clear procedures when he decided to save these young bears. We will pursue these issues to an arbitration hearing and ask an independent decision maker to find there was no just cause for the employer's actions.”

The bears, which were about eight weeks at the time, were sent to the North Island Wildfire Recovery Centre for care instead of being destroyed. It was believed that the cubs were on the property because their mother had been killed there and they were still weaning. When the homeowner found the cubs, they were stuck up a tree and the fire department had to be called in to help with the rescue. The bears were then tranquilized and taken to a veterinarian, instead of being destroyed as Casavant was told to do.

“Casavant should not have been suspended, and he should not be transferred from his job as a Conservation Officer,” said Smith. “He has a distinguished record of public service in law enforcement. Bryce Casavant did the right thing when he decided these young bears should be assessed for rehabilitation.”

The BCGEU says they have been working in good faith to negotiate a reasonable settlement and are surprised and disappointed by the province’s decision to remove Casavant from his job.

Our union remains committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable settlement,” Smith added. “We believe Bryce Casavant was working to the highest ideals of the Conservation Officer Service whose motto is Integrity, Service, and Protection.”

The BCGEU plans to schedule an arbitration hearing as soon as possible.

The province has issued an explanation regarding the decision and an update on the fate of the bear cubs. Read that story here.