Rigorous and effective enforcement of Canada's wildlife protection laws is one of the concrete ways in which we meet our commitment to conserving wildlife and wildlife habitats.
On December 12, 2024, at the Gatineau courthouse, the Commission de la capitale nationale pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Species at Risk Act. The charge stems from actions that contravened a condition of a permit issued under the Act and resulted in damage to critical habitat for the western chorus frog.
The Commission de la capitale nationale was ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 to the Receiver General for Canada. The Commission de la capitale nationale will also be required to pay $25,000 to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund. The Court also ordered the Commission de la capitale nationale to carry out remedial work to repair the damage caused to the western chorus frog's critical habitat.
In June 2022, the Commission de la capitale nationale obtained a permit under the Species at Risk Act to develop a bicycle path in the western chorus frog's habitat in Leamy Lake Park, Gatineau. In October 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers verified compliance with the permit conditions. As a result of their inspection, the officers found that one of the specific conditions of the permit had not been complied with.
After investigating, the officers discovered that between October 4 and 19, 2022, rock dust had been deposited in the western chorus frog's critical habitat during the work that was carried out. In so doing, the Commission de la capitale nationale failed to comply with a condition of the permit and committed offences under the Species at Risk Act.
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 our natural environment.
