Two hog farming businesses and a Director must pay manure spill
fines of $120,000, plus $30,000 victim fine surcharges, for
discharging pig manure into the Thames River and Sweets Creek. The
manure impaired the quality of water, contrary to the Ontario Water
Resources Act. The individual Director also pleaded guilty and was
fined for failing to take reasonable care to prevent the
discharges, contrary to the duty of corporate directors under
the
Ontario Water Resources Act. In 2012, the same
family's companies were fined $345,000 for similar manure
spills that caused water pollution plus a jail term for an
individual farmer.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, Eric Van Boekel is
an Officer and General Manager of Van Boekel Holdings Inc., engaged
in the hog farming business. The company was incorporated in 1993
and owns the farm located on Braemar Sideroad in the Township of
East Zorra-Tavistock. A large pig barn is located about 100 metres
from the edge of
