BRAMPTON, ON , Aug. 16,
2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health,
safety, and environment of Canadians. Environment and Climate
Change Canada enforces the laws that protect the air, water, and
natural environment in Canada, and
it takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment
seriously.
On August 15, 2024, 2253457
Ontario Inc., a fuel-supply company in Mississauga, Ontario, was fined $100,000 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. The company pleaded guilty to one
offence under the Fisheries Act relating to the unlawful
deposit of diesel fuel into fish-bearing waters between February 7 and March 5, 2019. The
fine will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.
On February 8, 2019, Environment
and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers responded to
complaints relating to a diesel fuel spill in Etobicoke Creek.
Officers conducted an inspection at the company's diesel fuel
station on Dixie Road in Mississauga,
Ontario. During the inspection, officers observed diesel
fuel entering Etobicoke Creek, a body of water frequented by fish.
The officers collected samples, and issued a Fisheries Act
Direction to the company, requiring them to stop the release and
prevent any further deposits to Etobicoke Creek.
On February 14, 2019, enforcement
officers initiated an investigation. The laboratory analysis
revealed that the samples contained diesel, a substance that is
deleterious to fish. Through their investigation, enforcement
officers determined that poor maintenance of the on-site oil-water
separator led to a system failure, allowing diesel fuel to be
discharged through the storm sewer into Etobicoke Creek.
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 administers and enforces
the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act.
These provisions include a prohibition against the deposit of
deleterious substances into water frequented by fish, or in a place
where they may enter water frequented by fish.
- A Fisheries Act Direction is a compliance tool that may
be issued by enforcement officers when there is an unauthorized
deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish,
or when there is a serious and imminent danger of such an incident
and immediate action is necessary.
- Etobicoke Creek is water frequented by fish, as defined under
the Fisheries Act. It is in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario and flows into Lake Ontario, which is home to more than 100
species of fish.
- 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
- Environmental Enforcement Inspections
Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada