An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment (S.C. 2009, c. 14)
Full Document:
- HTMLFull Document: An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment |
- PDFFull Document: An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment [848 KB]
Assented to 2009-06-18
70. Section 266 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Decision
266. The review officer or the panel, as the case may be, shall, within 15 days after the completion of the review of an order, render a decision, with written reasons, and provide all persons to whom the order was directed and the Minister with a copy of the decision and the reasons.
71. Section 267 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 267(1) and is amended by adding the following:
Marginal note:Rules for other Acts
(2) The Chief Review Officer may make rules under subsection (1) with respect to the review of orders made under any Act of Parliament that provides for the review of those orders in accordance with sections 257 to 271 of this Act.
Marginal note:2005, c. 23, s. 37
72. Sections 272 to 275 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Offence — persons
272. (1) Every person commits an offence who
(a) contravenes subsection 16(3) or (4), any of subsections 81(1), (2), (3), (4), (10), (11) and (14), 84(2) and 96(3) and (4), section 101, any of subsections 106(1), (2), (3), (4), (10) and (11) and 109(2), section 117 or 123, any of subsections 124(1), (2) and (3), 125(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), 126(1) and (2) and 139(1), section 142 or 144, subsection 150(3) or (4), section 152, subsection 153(1), section 154, subsection 155(5), section 171 or 181 or subsection 185(1), 186(2), 189(1), 202(3) or (4) or 213(3) or (4), paragraph 228(a) or subsection 238(1);
(b) fails to comply with an obligation set out in section 70, 86, 95 or 111, subsection 169(1), 172(1), 179(1), 182(1), 201(1) or 212(1);
(c) contravenes a prohibition imposed under subsection 82(1) or (2), paragraph 84(1)(b), subsection 107(1) or (2), paragraph 109(1)(b) or subsection 186(1) or 225(4);
(d) contravenes a condition of a permission granted under paragraph 84(1)(a) or 109(1)(a);
(e) contravenes an interim order made under subsection 94(1), 173(1), 183(1) or 200.1(1);
(f) fails to comply with a direction given under section 99, 119 or 148;
(g) knowingly contravenes paragraph 228(b);
(h) contravenes any provision of the regulations designated by regulations made under section 286.1 for the purpose of this paragraph;
(i) contravenes an agreement as defined in section 295;
(j) contravenes an order, direction or decision of a court made under this Act;
(k) knowingly, with respect to any matter related to this Act or the regulations, provides any person with any false or misleading information, results or samples; or
(l) knowingly, with respect to any matter related to this Act or the regulations, files a document that contains false or misleading information.
Marginal note:Penalty — individuals
(2) Every individual who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $15,000 and not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years, or to both, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $30,000 and not more than $2,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years, or to both; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $300,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $600,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
Marginal note:Penalty — other persons
(3) Every person, other than an individual or a corporation referred to in subsection (4), that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $500,000 and not more than $6,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $12,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $100,000 and not more than $4,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $200,000 and not more than $8,000,000.
Marginal note:Penalty — small revenue corporations
(4) Every corporation that commits an offence under subsection (1) and that the court determines under section 272.3 to be a small revenue corporation is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $75,000 and not more than $4,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $150,000 and not more than $8,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $25,000 and not more than $2,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than $4,000,000.
Marginal note:Offence — persons
272.1 (1) Every person commits an offence who
(a) contravenes any provision of this Act, other than a provision the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272(1);
(b) fails to comply with an obligation arising from this Act, a requirement imposed under this Act or a request made under this Act, other than an obligation, a requirement or a request the failure to comply with is an offence under 272(1);
(c) contravenes a prohibition arising from this Act, other than a prohibition the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272(1);
(d) contravenes a condition of any permission granted under this Act, other than a condition of a permission the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272(1);
(e) fails to comply with a direction given under this Act, other than a direction the failure to comply with is an offence under 272(1);
(f) contravenes any provision of the regulations, other than a provision the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272(1) or 272.2(1);
(g) negligently, with respect to any matter related to this Act or the regulations, provides any person with any false or misleading information, results or samples; or
(h) negligently, with respect to any matter related to this Act or the regulations, files a document that contains false or misleading information.
Marginal note:Penalty — individuals
(2) Every individual who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $100,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $200,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $25,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $50,000.
Marginal note:Penalty — other persons
(3) Every person, other than an individual or a corporation referred to in subsection (4), that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $250,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000.
Marginal note:Penalty — small revenue corporations
(4) Every corporation that commits an offence under subsection (1) and that the court determines under section 272.3 to be a small revenue corporation is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $250,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $50,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $100,000.
Marginal note:Offence — failure to comply with designated regulations
272.2 (1) Every person who fails to comply with a provision of a regulation designated under section 286.1 for the purpose of this subsection commits an offence and is liable
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) in the case of an individual, to a fine determined in accordance with the regulations or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years, or to both, and
(ii) in the case of a person, other than an individual, to a fine determined in accordance with the regulations; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) in the case of an individual, to a fine determined in accordance with the regulations or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and
(ii) in the case of a person, other than an individual, to a fine determined in accordance with the regulations.
Marginal note:Regulations
(2) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the method of calculating the fine in respect of the offence referred to in subsection (1) committed by individuals, other persons and corporations determined under section 272.3 to be small revenue corporations, which method may be based on a monetary range specified in the regulations.
Marginal note:Tradeable units
(3) If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) by reason of having failed to comply with a provision that requires the remission or the cancellation of tradeable units described in regulations made under section 326, the court shall, in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed under subsection (1), make an order requiring the person to remit or cancel tradeable units of the type and number determined in accordance with regulations made under subsection (4) or, if there are no regulations made under that subsection, in accordance with subsection (5). In the case of an order to remit, the court shall specify in the order the name of the person or entity to whom the tradeable units are to be remitted.
Marginal note:Regulations
(4) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the types of tradeable units described in regulations made under section 326 that a person may be required to remit or cancel in an order made under subsection (3) and the manner of determining the number of those tradeable units that the person may be required to remit or cancel.
Marginal note:Absence of regulations
(5) If there are no regulations made under subsection (4), the court shall require the person to remit or cancel tradeable units of a type and in the number that, in the court’s opinion, the person failed to remit or cancel.
Marginal note:Determination of small revenue corporation status
272.3 For the purpose of sections 272, 272.1 and 272.2, a court may determine a corporation to be a small revenue corporation if the court is satisfied that the corporation’s gross revenues for the 12 months immediately before the day on which the subject matter of the proceedings arose — or, if it arose on more than one day, for the 12 months immediately before the first day on which the subject matter of the proceedings arose — were not more than $5,000,000.
Marginal note:Offence — ships
272.4 (1) Every ship commits an offence if it contravenes
(a) section 123, subsection 124(1.1), 125(1), (2.1) or (3.1) or 126(1.1) or (3);
(b) any provision of the regulations designated by regulations made under section 286.1; or
(c) any order or a direction made under this Act, including one made by a court.
Marginal note:Penalty — ships of 7 500 tonnes deadweight or over
(2) Every ship of 7 500 tonnes deadweight or over that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $500,000 and not more than $6,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $12,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $100,000 and not more than $4,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $200,000 and not more than $8,000,000.
Marginal note:Penalty — other ships
(3) Every other ship that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $75,000 and not more than $4,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $150,000 and not more than $8,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $25,000 and not more than $2,000,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than $4,000,000.
Marginal note:Offences — ships
272.5 (1) Every ship commits an offence if it contravenes
(a) any provision of this Act that expressly applies to ships, other than a provision the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272.4(1); or
(b) any provision of the regulations other than a provision the contravention of which is an offence under subsection 272.4(1).
Marginal note:Penalty — ship of 7 500 tonnes deadweight or over
(2) Every ship of 7 500 tonnes deadweight or over that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $250,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000.
Marginal note:Penalty — other ships
(3) Every other ship that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable,
(a) on conviction on indictment,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $250,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000; or
(b) on summary conviction,
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $50,000, and
(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $100,000.
Marginal note:Relief from minimum fine
273. The court may impose a fine that is less than the minimum amount provided for in subsection 272(2), (3) or (4) or 272.4(2) or (3) if it is satisfied, on the basis of evidence submitted to the court, that the minimum fine would cause undue financial hardship. The court shall provide reasons if it imposes a fine that is less than the minimum amount provided for in any of those subsections.
Marginal note:Deeming — second and subsequent offence
273.1 (1) For the purposes of subsections 272(2) to (4), 272.1(2) to (4), 272.4(2) and (3) and 272.5(2) and (3), a conviction for a particular offence under this Act is deemed to be a conviction for a second or subsequent offence if the court is satisfied that the offender has been previously convicted — under any Act of Parliament, or any Act of the legislature of a province, that relates to environmental or wildlife conservation or protection — of a substantially similar offence.
Marginal note:Application
(2) Subsection (1) applies only to previous convictions on indictment and to previous convictions on summary conviction, and to previous convictions under any similar procedure under any Act of the legislature of a province.
Marginal note:Damage to environment and risk of death or harm to persons
274. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both, who, in committing an offence under this Act,
(a) intentionally or recklessly causes a disaster that results in a loss of the use or the non-use value of the environment; or
(b) shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons and thereby causes a risk of death or harm to another person.
Marginal note:Criminal negligence
(2) Every person who, in committing an offence under this Act, shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons and thereby causes death or bodily harm to another person is subject to prosecution and punishment under section 220 or 221 of the Criminal Code.
Marginal note:Additional fine
274.1 If a person or ship is convicted of an offence and the court is satisfied that, as a result of the commission of the offence, the person — or, if the offender is a ship, the owner or operator of the ship — acquired any property, benefit or advantage, the court shall order the offender to pay an additional fine in an amount equal to the court’s estimation of the value of that property, benefit or advantage. The additional fine may exceed the maximum amount of any fine that may otherwise be imposed under this Act.
Marginal note:Notice to shareholders
274.2 If a corporation that has shareholders is convicted of an offence under this Act, the court shall make an order directing the corporation to notify its shareholders, in the manner and within the time directed by the court, of the facts relating to the commission of the offence and of the details of the punishment imposed.
Marginal note:Limitation period
275. No proceedings by way of summary conviction in respect of an offence under this Act may be instituted more than five years after the day on which the subject matter of the proceedings arose, unless the prosecutor and the defendant agree that they may be instituted after the five years.
- Date modified: