On September 15, Canadian National Railway Company (CN Rail) pleaded guilty in Prince Rupert Provincial Court to a charge of violating the Fisheries Act.
The violation was in relation to the deposit of pesticides in or around waters frequented by fish.
The company was fined $2.5 million, which will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
On August 28, 2017, enforcement officers observed a spray truck discharging a mist as it travelled along the rail corridor between Terrace and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.
Because the rail corridor runs along the Skeena River and over many tributaries and wetlands, officers conducted an inspection to verify compliance with the Fisheries Act.
The subsequent inspection and investigation confirmed that the pesticides sprayed along the rail line were harmful to fish.
As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.
The Registry contains information on convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws.
