Government of Canada Delivers Results for Lake Simcoe

Tougher Enforcement to Protect the Environment

Ottawa – Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment introduced legislation to strengthen Canada's environmental enforcement regime.

Cracking down on polluters, poachers and wildlife smugglers through increased fines and new enforcement tools are the main elements of the Environmental Enforcement Bill.

A key provision of the new bill is that it raises maximum fines and introduces mandatory fines for the first time. Under the proposed bill, fines for individuals who commit serious offences would be between $5,000 and $1 million, while fines for corporations would be between $25,000 and $6 million.

The bill will also gives enforcement officers new powers to investigate cases and grants courts new sentencing authorities that ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of the pollution and wildlife offences.

“This legislation will help build on our previous actions to protect Lake Simcoe, “said Peter Van Loan. “I am proud to have the opportunity to work on delivering on those commitments to the residents of York-Simcoe”

Previous actions by the Conservative Government to protect Lake Simcoe’s Environment include:

• Mandatory rules to protect the lake’s ecosystem from the threat of invasive species;
• A virtual ban on phosphates in detergents;
• A ban on waste dumping; and
• A $30 million Lake Simcoe clean-up fund.

The new legislation builds on the Budget 2007 commitment of $22 million for the hiring of 106 new officers, bringing the number of on-the-ground enforcement officers across the country to more than 320, and the Budget 2008 allocation of $21 million over two years to implement the stricter environmental enforcement measures.

For more information please contact Brynn Kennedy at (613) 996-7752.