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Te NC rts Sh i] 10%% Courts impose over $2 million in fines last year Prosecutions for environmental offences have more than tripled since 1985, Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley announced recently, The Ministry of the Environ- ment initiated 244 cases against 343 companies and individuals in the year ending March 31, 1989, compared to 211 prosecutions the previous year and 54 in the year ending March 31, 1985. This is an increase of 352 per cent since 1985. A total of 1,568 charges were laid in the 244 prosecutions, up from 454 in the 1984-85 fiscal year. Ministry lawyers obtained con- victions in 176 cases in the past year, compared to 57 in the year ending March 31, 1985. That is an increase of 209 per cent since 1985. That's a curfew Parents in Dermott, Ar- kansas had best make sure their kids are home by 11:00 PM. It seems the town council in Dermott (Pop. 4731) passed alo- cal law for an 11:00 PM to 5:30 AM curfew for all kids under 18 years of age. But it will be the parents, not the kids, who pay the price if their youngsters wih the cur- few. After one warning, parents who allow their kids out during curfew can be fined $500, jailed for 30 days, including time in public viewing in a "stockade." And their names will be turned over to the local newspaper for publication as "irresponsible parents." Yessiree, they tend to take law and order seriously in Der- mott, Arkansas. Defends new tax (From page 2) And he suggested that part of the current anger may be rooted in the fact the public is generally teed off about tax in- creases at the provincial and municipal levels this year. But he insists the tax is necessary for Canada's econom- ic well being and he's prepared to defendit. INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. LOB 1NO (416) 985-7308 ALL LINES OF GENERAL INSURANCE NATIONAL TRUST A Division of National Victoria and Grey Trustco _. 1 Year Annual Interest 10% 5 Year Annual Rates Subject lo Change without Notice. | EMMERSON Ministry lawyers maintained a 91.7 per cent conviction rate, win- ning convinctions in 176 of the 192 cases resolved in the past year. Cases pending March 31, 1989 totalled 180, up from 128 the year previous and 28 on March 31, 1985. Fines totalling $2,025,076 were imposed by Ontario courts in en- vironmental cases last year, com- pared with $1,056,038 in fines in 1987-88. The average fine for each cast that resulted in a conviction increased to $11,506 in fiscal year 1988-1989, compared to an average fine of $6,212 the previous year. "I commend the courts for reflecting in their sentencing the increasig importance which the people of Ontario place on en- vironmental protection. The dramatically increased levels of fines, including many in the tens of thousands of dollars, means judges are employing the tougher penalties contained in our 1986 reform of Ontario's environm- netal laws," Mr. Bradley said. Among the cases resolved in 1988-89 were: Inco Limited of Sudbury was fined $80,000 on January 2, 1989 after pleading guilty to eight counts under the Environmental Protection Act. The Ministry accused Inco of permitting the discharge of a cloud of sulphur trioxide and sulphuric acid which descended upon a Girl Guide and Brownie camp and several other places in .the Sudbury area on August 19, 1987. One hundred and fifty persons went to hospital, some reporting adverse health effects lasting several weeks. Vegetation damage also occurred. Ontario Hydro was fined $100,000 this year after pleading guilty to two PCB-related charges. The Ministry charged Hydro with permitting PCB- contaminated waste oil to be removed from its Kapuskasing yard without a permit, and by an unlicensed hauler. The oil was to be used as a dust suppressant on a public road. (The practice of us- ing waste oil as a dust suppres- sant has since been outlawed in PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, August 22, 1989 -- 3 Ontario). Bakelite Thermosets Ltd. of Belleville was fined $100,000 on March 14, 1989, after being con- victed of three counts under the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Environmental Protection Act. The Ministry charged that Bakelite burned napthalene wastes in an unsuitable in- cinerator, permitted the discharge of phenolic wastes into the Bay of Quinte, and failed to keep records of PCB wastes stored on its premises. : The Ministry led evidence that a Bakelite employee was in- Environmental charges triple in Ontario structed to destroy records of these activities. The employee in- stead turned them over to the Ministry of the Environment. He was fired by the company, and is now suing Bakelite for improper dismissal, using provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, which make it an offence to fire or discipline a worker for repor- ting environmental spills or pro- blems to the ministry. "Our environmental protection laws are in place to safeguard human health and maintain the vitality of our natural environ- ment. We will continue to enforce these laws vigorously and without fear or favor,"'" Mr. Bradley said. MACKEY & BAILEY BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon | Oshawa Rd., Port Perry | Lake Scugog Lumber Building aie) 989-7391 Daphne's Summer Clearanc 390 &s MOST CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES NOW OPEN for the T.G. Mitchell's Country Gentleman FALL" COLLECTIONS