A statement issued by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs reports that a Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville company has been fined $90,000 for violating the Environment Quality Act (EQA) in Godmanchester.
The company, identified as 2642-4432 Québec inc., was found guilty on May 15 of three violations that took place between 2016 and 2019 on land located along the Teafield Road.
Between August 2016 and May 2017, the company carried out work in a peat bog on lot number 4 437 707 without having obtained prior authorization from the environment ministry. The same type of infraction occurred again between March 2017 and March 2018 behind residences located on lot number 4 666 994. The company was then charged a third time for carrying out preparatory work for cultivation in a peat bog between March 2018 and May 2019.
In all three cases, the company was found guilty of breaching section 22 of the EQA. As a result, the business was fined $60,000 and was ordered to reimburse $30,000 in applicable costs and contributions.
The environment ministry notes that peat bogs are valuable ecosystems that must be conserved as they perform several important functions. For example, they can help to improve drinking water quality, limit flood damage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The statement maintains that the environment ministry will take all necessary steps to ensure environmental legislation is respected.
Citizens can report any act or behaviour that may affect the quality of the environment by completing the form available on the ministry’s website at: www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/formulaires/plainte/form.asp.
Individuals can also call Urgence-Environnement at 1 866 694-5454 to report any event requiring rapid or immediate intervention. (SR)