Quebec company guilty of illegally exporting polar bear skin rugs

October 23, 2017 – Montréal, Quebec

Illegal trafficking of wildlife is not acceptable in Canada. Unlawfully exploiting threatened species for profit will not be tolerated.

On October 3, 2017, Fourrures Mont-Royal Inc. pleaded guilty, in the Court of Quebec, to three counts under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act relating to the illegal exportation of three polar bear skin rugs. The company was fined $22,500, which will go to the Environmental Damages Fund. In addition, two polar bear skin rugs were ordered forfeited to the Crown. The company had initially presented the two rugs for sale, with a value of $17,000, to an Ontario fur auction house.

In 2015, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s wildlife enforcement officers launched an investigation when discrepancies surrounding submissions made to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit office led to the discovery of one polar bear skin rug located in Canada, but information showed it had previously been exported to China. The investigation found that the company, on three occasions, illegally exported polar bear skins to China.

An additional four polar bear skins, both rugs and hides, were forfeited upon consent by two other companies that were in possession of the skins at the time of the investigation. Two of these skins were listed for retail sale for a total of $30,000.

As a result of this conviction, the company's name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

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