Fruit packaging plant and land owner fined for environmental offences

June 30, 2017 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

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

On June 2, 2017, Snowcrest Foods Ltd. pleaded guilty to violating the Fisheries Act, and was ordered to pay a penalty of $50,000. Also, on June 2, 2017, Noort Investments, the property owner where Snowcrest Foods Ltd. operates, pleaded guilty to a violation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) and was ordered to pay a penalty of $30,000.  The total penalty of $80,000 will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.

Enforcement officers inspected Snowcrest Foods Ltd., a fruit packaging plant, following a report from the municipality that waste water destined for the sanitary sewer system was being sent to the storm water system. The investigation found that Snowcrest Foods Ltd. had failed to notify an inspector of the deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish.

Enforcement officers later inspected Snowcrest Foods Ltd. for compliance with the PCB Regulations.  The investigation uncovered information showing that Noort Investments did not meet its obligations related to the reporting and use of PCB’s.

Quick Facts

• Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, which prohibit the deposit of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish.
• PCBs are toxic industrial chemical substances that are harmful to aquatic ecosystems and species that feed primarily on aquatic organisms.
• 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.

Associated Links

Fisheries Act
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Contact

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)