Waterdown Garden Supplies Ltd. Fined A Total Of $230,000 For Water Violations
HAMILTON – On April 18, 2011, Waterdown Garden Supplies Ltd. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and three violations under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). The company was also sentenced for another violation under OWRA that it had previously pled to on March 28, 2011. The total fine for all five offences was $230,000. Wim Van Ravenswaay and Trevor Ducharme also pled guilty to related offences.
The Court heard that the company is an organic waste receiver in Hamilton. Mr. Van Ravensway is the owner and a director of the company. Mr. Ducharme was the site manager and a director. The convictions of the company relate to two separate discharges from a leachate and stormwater management pond that impacted a nearby creek and neighboring farm fields. The company also failed to meet ministry requirements set out in three Provincial Officer’s Orders.
The company, Mr. Van Ravensway and Mr. Ducharme were charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.
The company was fined $100,000 for each of the OWRA offences, and $10,000 for each breach of a Provincial Officer’s Order, for a total fine of $230,000 plus victim fine surcharge. The company was given two years to pay.
Mr. Van Ravenswaay pled guilty to two violations under the EPA for failing to take all reasonable care while a director of the company to ensure that it complied with Provincial Officer’s Orders. He was fined a total of $7,500 plus a victim fine surcharge and given two years to pay. Mr. Ducharme pled guilty to one violation under the EPA for failing to take all reasonable care while a director of the company to prevent the company from providing false and misleading information the ministry and was fined $5,000 and given one year to pay the fine.
For further information:
Members of the media:
Kate Jordan
Communications Branch
(416) 314-6666