Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

fine

Former B.C. mining exec fined $30K for environmental violations — but First Nation says damage costs far more

Former B.C. mining exec fined $30K for environmental violations — but First Nation says damage costs far more

The former executive of a now-bankrupt mining company has been fined nearly $30,000 for environmental violations dating back to 2015 — an amount that has led to competing appeals from both sides. The charges follow a July 7 ruling from B.C. provincial court judge David Patterson, who said Benjamin Mossman was "actively or passively involved" in releasing excess zinc and other substances into woods and wetlands on Banks Island in Gitxaała First Nation territory. He was fined $29,994, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, which led the joint investigation into the allegations in the initial stages. 

Site C dam's main builder fined $1.1M for polluting B.C. river

Site C dam's main builder fined $1.1M for polluting B.C. river

The main contractor in charge of constructing the Site C hydroelectric dam project near Fort St. John in northeastern B.C. has been hit with a $1.1 million fine for dumping contaminated drainage water into the Peace River. The penalty was imposed after Peace River Hydro Partners pleaded guilty in provincial court in Fort St. John on Monday to depositing a deleterious substance into fish-bearing waters, a violation of the federal Fisheries Act, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada,

Coast guard issues first-ever fine for abandoned vessel in Victoria

Coast guard issues first-ever fine for abandoned vessel in Victoria

The Canadian Coast Guard has issued its first fine against the owner of a derelict and abandoned vessel under a federal law that took effect four years ago. A statement from the coast guard says the agency levied a fine of $15,000 against the owner of a boat that was grounded and abandoned in Cadboro Bay, near Victoria.

Oil Refinery and Contractor fined $930,000 for Ontario Water Resources Act violation

Oil Refinery and Contractor fined $930,000 for Ontario Water Resources Act violation

The conviction against SGS Canada Inc. is for permitting the discharge of a petroleum product into a watercourse which may impair the quality of the water. The conviction against Imperial Oil Limited is for failing to forthwith notify the ministry of the discharge that may impair the quality of the water of any waters.

Watering restrictions begin in Metro Vancouver

Watering restrictions begin in Metro Vancouver

Watering restrictions begin for the Metro Vancouver region on May 1. The restrictions, which are set to be in place until Oct. 15, come into force after the area got its first blast of summer-like weather over the weekend. According to Metro Vancouver, water use increases 50 per cent during the summer months, likely due to lawn watering. Starting this week, people whose addresses are even numbers are permitted to water their lawns on Saturday mornings, while residents at odd-numbered addresses can water on Sunday mornings. 

Drinking water owner and operator fined $21,000 for Safe Drinking Water violations

Drinking water owner and operator fined $21,000 for Safe Drinking Water violations

The convictions are for failing to: Comply with a ministry order by failing to measure the rate of flow through the chlorine residual analyzer daily and to record this information in the water treatment plant logbook, operate the system’s chlorine analyzer in accordance with prescribed standards, by failing to ensure a qualified person took appropriate action when there was good reason to believe that the equipment was malfunctioning, keep records of drinking water tests for at least two years, specifically continuous monitoring data for free chlorine residual at the system

Teck Metals Ltd. ordered to pay a $2.2 million fine for unlawful deposit of effluent into the Columbia River

Teck Metals Ltd. ordered to pay a $2.2 million fine for unlawful deposit of effluent into the Columbia River

Canadians value clean water and a sustainable environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers strive to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with laws and regulations that protect Canada's natural environment. On January 10, 2023, in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Teck Metals Ltd. was ordered to pay a total of $2.2 million after earlier pleading guilty to two charges laid under the federal Fisheries Act and one charge laid under the provincial Environmental Management Act. The charges stem from a 2019 release of effluent into the Columbia River. The federal fine of $2 million will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund. In relation to the provincial charges, Teck Metal Ltd. was ordered to pay a total fine of $200,000.

N7 Energy pleads guilty to disturbing creek bed without prior approval

N7 Energy pleads guilty to disturbing creek bed without prior approval

The Alberta Energy Regulator says N7 Energy Ltd. has pled guilty to violating the province's Water Act. The regulator says it laid the charge against the Calgary-based oil and gas company in August 2022. According to an agreed statement of facts, in August 2020, N7 Energy started construction activity at a bridge over a creek near Swan Hills, Alta. without prior approval from the regulator.

Metro Vancouver lawn watering limited to once a week in 2022

Metro Vancouver lawn watering limited to once a week in 2022

Lawn watering across Metro Vancouver will be limited to once a week when restrictions come into effect May 1, down from twice a week last year. Water use can increase by up to 50 per cent in the summer months according to the regional district, and lawn watering is a major reason why. The Phase 1 restrictions will remain in effect until Oct. 15. "The region-wide watering regulations are an effective way to help us use our drinking water wisely," Metro Vancouver's website reminds residents.

SCRD declares Stage 4 water restrictions

SCRD declares Stage 4 water restrictions

Following weeks of hot and dry weather and ongoing high water use, Stage 4 water restrictions are in effect for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) until further notice. The severe water conservation regulations, banning all outdoor use of drinking water, came into effect at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The restrictions apply to those on the Chapman water system, which includes the District of Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and parts of Elphinstone. A $500 fine applies to anyone found not complying. As of Aug. 9, the SCRD had issued 57 warnings and four fines since Stage 1 began in May. “Under these drought conditions, water use priorities focus on water for human health, firefighting and environmental flow requirements,” an Aug. 10 SCRD press release said.

Monitors doubt Teck mining company’s water fixes selenium issue

Monitors doubt Teck mining company’s water fixes selenium issue

As Teck Resources hopes to expand its mountaintop-removal coal mining in British Columbia, water quality monitors in Canada and the United States warn the company’s existing mines already cause significant ecological damage. In 2019, the company’s research revealed that more than 90% of the cutthroat trout population had vanished in a 37-mile reach of the Upper Fording River near its mines around Sparwood, British Columbia. On March 26, Teck pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally discharging selenium and other pollutants into the watershed and paid a $60 million fine – the largest of its kind in Canadian history.

Coal company Teck fined $60M for contaminating rivers in southeastern B.C.

Coal company Teck fined $60M for contaminating rivers in southeastern B.C.

A Canadian coal-mining company faces the largest fine imposed under the Fisheries Act after pleading guilty to contaminating waterways in southeastern British Columbia. Teck Coal, a subsidiary of Teck Resources, is to pay $60 million after a judge on Friday agreed to a joint submission from Environment Canada and the company. "Teck did not exercise all due diligence to prevent the deposit of coal mine waste rock leachate into the Fording River from settling ponds," federal prosecutor Alexander Clarkson, reading from an agreed statement of facts, said in B.C. provincial court.

Province 'serious about compliance' at Travellers Rest, P.E.I. wash plant

Province 'serious about compliance' at Travellers Rest, P.E.I. wash plant

A potato wash plant in Travellers Rest is cleaning up its act, and the pressure is on after the province issued a directive letter in mid-January. P.E.I. Potato Solutions is getting ready to open a new, larger facility next month, said co-owner Austin Roberts. Neighbours have made numerous complaints to the provincial Department of Environment as well as Environment Canada regarding the plant’s practices over the years. On Dec. 26, a heavy rainfall, combined with other factors, caused a holding pond containing organic waste from the plant to discharge into the environment.

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