TIMMINS,
ON, July 22, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of
Canada enforces the laws that
protect the air, water, and natural environment in Canada, and takes pollution incidents and
threats to the environment seriously.
On July 22, 2024, Canadian
National Railway Company was ordered to pay $8 million by
the Ontario Court of Justice,
after pleading guilty to two charges under the Fisheries
Act. The fine will be directed to the Government of
Canada's Environmental Damages
Fund to support projects that have a positive impact on the
natural environment.
The charges relate to events that happened on February 14, 2015, and on March 7, 2015, when Canadian National Railway
Company trains derailed near Gladwick and Gogama, Ontario, both times releasing a
significant amount of crude oil into the environment. Environment
and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers attended both
derailment sites to inspect and collect samples.
After a comprehensive investigation, the officers determined
that the February 14, 2015
derailment resulted in the release of approximately 1.06 million
litres of crude oil to the environment, some of which entered a
creek that flows into Upper Kasasway Lake. The March 7, 2015
derailment resulted in the release of approximately 2.6 million
litres of crude oil into the environment, including wetlands and
the Makami River that flows into Minisinakwa Lake.
The two derailments occurred after a piece of railway track
broke under the weight of the passing train. Canadian National
Railway Company failed to exercise due diligence in
maintaining the tracks.
Following the derailments, Canadian National Railway
Company renewed and restored the track infrastructure in the
Ruel subdivision (between the municipalities of Capreol and Hornepayne, in Ontario), specifically focusing on the areas
of the Gogama and Gladwick
derailments. The company also completed forest restoration
activities with the assistance of the Mattagami First Nation,
including a planting program to restore lost vegetation species
native to the area and creating a fish spawning lagoon in the
vicinity of the Gogama
bridge.
As a result of this conviction, the company's name will be added
to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The Registry contains
information on convictions of corporations registered for offences
committed under certain federal environmental laws.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free
subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what the
Government of Canada is doing to
protect the natural environment.
Quick facts
- Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for
administering and enforcing the pollution prevention provisions of
the Fisheries Act, which prohibit the deposit of a
deleterious substance into water frequented by fish.
- Upper Kasasway Lake, the Makami River, and Minisinakwa Lake are
waters frequented by fish, as defined by the Fisheries
Act.
- The two charges include:
- One charge for contravening subsection 36(3) of the
Fisheries Act for the deposit of a deleterious substance
into water frequented by fish or in a place where it may enter
water frequented by fish, on February 14,
2015.
- One charge for contravening subsection 36(3) of the
Fisheries Act for the deposit of a deleterious substance
into water frequented by fish or in a place where it may enter
water frequented by fish, on March 7,
2015.
- Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government
of Canada program administered by
Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund directs monies
received from fines, penalties, court orders, and voluntary
payments to projects that will repair environmental damage or
benefit the environment. The Fund aims to invest in areas where the
environmental damage occurred.
Associated links
- Fisheries Act (Pollution Prevention Provisions)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Fisheries Act Pollution
Prevention Provisions
- Environmental Damages Fund
- Environmental Offenders Registry
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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada