NEWMARKET, Ont. -- November
14, 2012 -- A joint Environment Canada and
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources operation
has resulted in significant penalties against
two defendants convicted of the unlawful
sale, exportation and inter-provincial transport
of live Snakehead fish.
1240197 Ontario Inc.,
operating as Lucky Aquarium in Markham,
and an employee of Lucky Aquarium, Mr. Muk
Leung (Jimmy) Ip of Toronto, each pleaded
guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in
Newmarket to two charges under the federal
Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade
Act (WAPPRIITA) of illegally exporting an
invasive species, Snakehead fish (Channidae)
to the United States and illegally transporting
Snakehead fish from Ontario to Manitoba.
Lucky Aquarium and Mr. Ip also pleaded guilty
to four counts under the Ontario Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, of illegally
selling Snakehead fish.
Lucky Aquarium was ordered
to pay a total of $75,030 in fines and surcharges
with an additional $1,250 to be paid for
the publication of notices that warn of
the dangers of invasive species, and outline
the potential penalties for those who defy
the law. Lucky Aquarium was also sentenced
to two years of probation.
During probation, Lucky
Aquarium must meet stringent requirements
for reporting imports, exports, and sales
of fish to Environment Canada and the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources.
On November 9, 2012,
Mr. Ip was sentenced to two 60-day jail
terms to be served concurrently, followed
by two years of probation and will pay $1,250
towards the warning publication referenced
above.
Lucky Aquarium and Mr.
Ip were charged on June 5, 2012, by Environment
Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources at the conclusion of a 12-month
joint-forces undercover operation dubbed
“Operation Serpent” by Environment Canada.
As a result of the joint-forces
operation, Mr. Ip received a penalty of
$13,000 for related charges brought by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
and the New York Department of Environmental
Conservation Police.
Please visit our website
for further information on WAPPRIITA.
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Velocity Inc. and its
President Fined $37,200 for Violating the
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
MONTRÉAL, Que.
– November 7, 2012 – On October 29, 2012,
Velocity Inc., in Valleyfield, Quebec, and
Stéphane Poirier, its President,
were fined $37,200 after pleading guilty
to illegally importing 600 cylinders of
a controlled substance under the Ozone-Depleting
Substances Regulations, 1998 (ODSR, 1998).
The company was fined
$30,000, and its President $7,200. The fines,
which totaled $37,200, will be directed
to the Environmental Damages Fund by the
court.
In February 2011, Environment
Canada enforcement officers inspected a
cargo of cylinders from China. The cylinders
contained chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22,
or R-22), a refrigerant.
The ODSR, 1998, regulates
the importation, manufacture, use, sale
and exportation of ozone-depleting substances.
Illegal importation is an offence under
the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
1999 (CEPA, 1999).
The Environmental Damages
Fund, administered by Environment Canada,
follows the “polluter pays” principle to
help ensure that those who cause damage
to the environment or harm wildlife habitat
take responsibility for their actions. It
supports investments in repairing damage
to the environment and wildlife habitat.
Environment Canada has
created a subscription service to help Canadians
stay current with what the Government of
Canada is doing to protect our natural environment.
Subscribing to Environment Canada’s Enforcement
Notifications is easy, and free. Sign up
today.
