Environmental Penalties

On June 9, 2005, the Ontario Legislature passed the Environmental Enforcement Statute Law Amendment Act (Bill 133). This legislation amends the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act and introduces environmental penalties. The legislation will give the Ministry of the Environment the authority to impose environmental penalties of up to $100,000 a day for facilities responsible for unlawful spills and emissions. Unlike fines, which are handed down by the courts, these penalties would be assessed by Ministry of the Environment directors within a few days of a spill. The new system would encourage companies to make greater efforts to prevent spills and provide additional incentives to clean them up quickly.

Environmental penalties will apply to those facilities that are part of the nine industrial sectors regulated by the Municipal-Industrial Strategy for Abatement (MISA) regulations.

Resources NEW Environmental Enforcement Statute Law Amendment Act – Draft Regulations and Draft Policies posted on the Environmental Registry 5316e Stakeholder Consultation Paper: Developing Environmental Penalties for Ontario 5290e Technical Brief - Environmental Enforcement Statute Law Amendment Act (BILL 133) – Immediate Requirements     Industrial Spills in Ontario   5152e Bill 133 - A Fact Sheet For Industry News June 9, 2005 ‘You Spill You Pay’ Bill Passes Third Reading: Government Commitment to Get Tough on Polluters Fulfilled Quotes February 1, 2005 McGuinty Government Consults On Environmental Penalties Legislation Environment Ministry meets with business leaders to discuss Bill 133 December 8, 2004 Minister's Speech: “Ontario’s Environmental Priorities and Results” October 27, 2004 Statement to the Ontario Legislature: "Introduction of Environmental Penalties legislation" October 27, 2004 McGuinty Government Introduces Environmental Penalties Legislation: You Spill You Pay Law Lays Out Tough Penalties And Creates Community Cleanup Fund Backgrounder: Cracking Down On Polluters Legislation Bill 133: Environmental Enforcement Statute Law Amendment Act Companies Bill 133 protects the environment by encouraging companies to take action to prevent spills and penalize companies responsible for spills. The environmental penalty provisions of Bill 133 would initially apply to facilities subject to MISA regulations. The approximately 140 facilities listed here are currently subject to MISA regulations. Ontario's Environmental Leaders Program (formerly known as Cooperative Agreements). Ontario's Environmental Leaders Program is a new initiative under which the Ministry provides incentives to environmental leaders who commit to meeting beyond compliance environmental targets.