Convictions For Not Reporting Natural Gas?

Just as we predicted after R. v. Castonguay, the Ministry of the Environment is aggressively prosecuting in new areas of the economy, for not reporting events that are far from conventional "pollution". This time, it was a natural gas leak.

Three Ontario companies were fined $17,500­­­­­­­­ for failing to report a discharge of natural gas into the environment, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act.

A natural gas line release occurred during an excavation at a private residence located in Belleville. D. Koets Plumbing and Heating LTD from Brighton was the general contractor, and Scaletta Sand and Gravel Limited from Trenton was the sub-contractor and provided the backhoe and operator. Union Gas Limited is the owner of the infrastructure and the product, natural gas, which was affected by the release.