Blog by: Julie Lopez, Articling Student, CELA
Photo credit: Fe de Leon, CELA
Environmental fines and penalties are a crucial tool to hold individuals and corporations accountable for the damages they cause to the environment. In Canada and in Ontario, these fines and penalties are imposed for violations of environmental regulations at the federal and provincial levels, and serve as a deterrent for environmental damage and degradation.
At the federal level, the Environmental Damages Fund collects money from fines, penalties, court orders, and voluntary payments for violations under the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. At the provincial level, the Ontario Community Environment Fund receives money from penalties under the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act.
What happens to the money that is collected by these funds?
Both of these funds collect the money that individuals or corporations pay for their violations of the above-mentioned environmental laws and then provide funding to initiatives that will benefit the environment. In doing so, these funds can be powerful agents for change as they can provide financial support to a wide range of project types; from projects that restore or remediate the environment, to projects that promote education and local community capacity, or to projects that advance research, as examples.
Often, but not always, these funds will go to projects in the area where the environmental impact occurred. If the payment was made as part of a court’s sentencing decision, the court may also recommend how the funds should be used.*
When and how can I apply for funding for a project?
Typically, there will be an annual call for applications for the EDF and OCEF. However, the availability of funding in a given year will vary in accordance with the number and size of funding directed to the EDF and OCEF.
To help the public better understand these two funds, CELA has created two fact-sheets about the EDF and OCEF, and the application process for both.
Click the links for the bilingual fact sheets on the Environmental Damages Fund and the Ontario Community Environment Fund.
This blog was written by Julie Lopez, who is the articling student at the Canadian Environmental Law Association for the 2024-2025 term.
Blog: Environmental Penalties to Fund Community-Led Projects
Blog by: Julie Lopez, Articling Student, CELA
Photo credit: Fe de Leon, CELA
Environmental fines and penalties are a crucial tool to hold individuals and corporations accountable for the damages they cause to the environment. In Canada and in Ontario, these fines and penalties are imposed for violations of environmental regulations at the federal and provincial levels, and serve as a deterrent for environmental damage and degradation.
At the federal level, the Environmental Damages Fund collects money from fines, penalties, court orders, and voluntary payments for violations under the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. At the provincial level, the Ontario Community Environment Fund receives money from penalties under the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act.
What happens to the money that is collected by these funds?
Both of these funds collect the money that individuals or corporations pay for their violations of the above-mentioned environmental laws and then provide funding to initiatives that will benefit the environment. In doing so, these funds can be powerful agents for change as they can provide financial support to a wide range of project types; from projects that restore or remediate the environment, to projects that promote education and local community capacity, or to projects that advance research, as examples.
Often, but not always, these funds will go to projects in the area where the environmental impact occurred. If the payment was made as part of a court’s sentencing decision, the court may also recommend how the funds should be used.*
When and how can I apply for funding for a project?
Typically, there will be an annual call for applications for the EDF and OCEF. However, the availability of funding in a given year will vary in accordance with the number and size of funding directed to the EDF and OCEF.
To help the public better understand these two funds, CELA has created two fact-sheets about the EDF and OCEF, and the application process for both.
Click the links for the bilingual fact sheets on the Environmental Damages Fund and the Ontario Community Environment Fund.
This blog was written by Julie Lopez, who is the articling student at the Canadian Environmental Law Association for the 2024-2025 term.
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