Big companies partaking in polluting will start to rethink their practices, as the Harper government has proposed a new penalty that, instead of the current $1 million fine, the maximum will be increase to $6 million.

In addition to this six-fold increase, minimum fines will be added, ranging from $5,000 to $1 million for individuals, and $25,000 to $6 million for companies.It also allows enforcement offers to investigate cases and enforce the seriousness of their penalties.

Under this proposal, corporate offenders will have to inform their shareholders of their penalty and have their name on public display on the Environment Canada website. Adding fuel to the fire they’ve set for themselves, they could have licenses revoked and profits confiscated, the money relocated to an environmental fund.

The Environmental Enforcement Bill proposal amends nine current laws, two of which have  failed to be updated in the last twenty years; among them, The Migratory Birds Convention Act and The Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Companies currently facing fines, such as Syncrude Canada Ltd., who were recently charged in the death of 500 migrating waterfowl that landed in its oil sands sewage ponds in Alberta.   “This was the single largest reported incident of oiled birds in the oilsands region,” Environment Canada reported.

The previous maximum penalty for the conviction was a fine of $300,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Now they could face charges, under the proposed law, up to $6 million.

The new legislation builds on the Budget 2007 and 2008 for hiring of new officers, and would take approximately two years to implement the stricter environmental enforcement measures.

Source and image courtesy of: Environment Canada

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