Following a guilty plea in December 2015, Essroc Canada
Inc., a cement manufacturer, based in Picton Bay, Ontario, was
fined a total of $200,000 plus the 25% victim fine surcharge (an
additional $50,000). This was for causing a discharge of dust into
the natural environment and for failing to forthwith notify the
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change ("MOECC") of
the discharge.
The investigation conducted by the MOECC, which eventually led
to the charges, was triggered by complaints from area residents.
Essroc notified the MOECC of visible dust emissions being emitted
from its facility on April 5, 2013. However, it did so about 3
1/2 hours after the dust emissions were discovered.
