A healthy environment supports wildlife, biodiversity, and the natural places Canadians value while contributing to sustainable economic development. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers support these outcomes by enforcing federal environmental and wildlife laws that prevent harm and help protect natural resources in Canada now and into the future.
On September 10, 2026, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Steel Inc. was fined $1.2 million after pleading guilty to one count under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act and one count under subsection 5.1(1) of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. The two offences relate to the deposit of a deleterious and/or harmful substance in water frequented by fish and in water or an area used by migratory birds. The fine will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund to support projects that have a positive impact on the environment.
This sentence follows an investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers into a gear oil tank overflow incident at the company's Sault Ste. Marie facility between June 8 and 9, 2022. The incident resulted in the deposit of an estimated 1,000 to 1,250 litres of gear oil into the St. Marys River. Gear oil is considered a deleterious substance as defined by the Fisheries Act and is a substance harmful to migratory birds under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
The Fisheries Act and Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 contain important protections for aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and their habitats in Canada. Under these Acts, individuals and all companies in Canada must ensure their activities are managed in a manner that prevents unauthorized deposits of deleterious or harmful substances to the environment. They must also identify and manage environmental risks and respond accordingly when incidents occur.
As a result of this conviction, the company's name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The Registry contains information on convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what the Government of Canada is doing to protect the natural environment.
