Environment Canada slaps Ont. gold miner with $175K fine

THUNDER BAY, Ont.—An Ontario gold mining firm has been fined $175,000 in the Ontario Court of Justice for violating the Fisheries Act.

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. has pleaded guilty to charges related to depositing harmful substances in waters around its Eagle River Mill, which is about 50 kilometres outside of Wawa in Northern Ont.

The charges followed a joint investigation carried out by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Ontario’s Environment ministry that determined the company deposited effluent harmful to fish between Jan. 1, 2012, and May 7, 2013 at the Eagle River site, while failing to take reasonable measures to prevent the release. The ministry noted the company also failed to report the incidents in accordance with the Fisheries Act.

$131,250 of the federal fine will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund, while the remaining $43,750 will be paid to the court. In addition to the federal fine, Wesdome will pay $175,000 as a result of provincial charges.