Fishing vessel owner sentenced in British Columbia for violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Victoria, British Columbia – January 31, 2018 – Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers work hard every day to make sure individuals and companies are following Canadian environmental laws.

On January 11, 2018, Mr. Telell Waldhaus was ordered to pay $12,000 after pleading guilty, in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, to one count of contravening the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The penalty will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.

In September 2013, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers issued an environmental protection compliance order to ensure the proper disposal of the fishing vessel Elling K, after it sank while docked in Masset, British Columbia. After measures outlined in the order were not met, Environment and Climate Change Canada initiated an investigation, which concluded that the vessel vanished without a trace after being towed from the Masset dock.

Quick facts

  • Environmental protection compliance orders are orders that Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers may issue to put an immediate stop to a violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, prevent a violation from occurring, or require an action be taken to address a violation.
  • Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund follows the polluter pays principle and ensures that court-awarded penalties are used for projects with positive environmental impacts.

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Contacts

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca

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