May 13, 2024
For immediate release
A Chesley Lake landowner pled guilty in Provincial Offences Court in Owen Sound on Thursday, April 25, 2024, for the unlawful placement of material and site grading without permission from Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) as required under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 151/06. The court imposed a fine of $1500 along with an order for restoration.
Concerns were reported in 2020, which led to an investigation by Grey Sauble Conservation Authority Environmental Planning Department staff and ultimately a charge being laid against the property owner.
Incidents leading to charges are infrequent as enforcement staff work to resolve compliance issues before resorting to legal measures. However, this specific case underscores the importance of complying with the Conservation Authorities Act and the requirement to obtain permission for development activities within a regulated area.
New changes to the Conservation Authorities Act that took effect April 1, 2024, now allow for much stiffer penalties for those who are found in violation of the Act and the new Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits (replaces Ontario Regulation 151/06). Key changes include the following:
- Individual landowners are liable of a fine up to $50,000, possible imprisonment of up to three months, and an additional fine of up to $10,000 for each day the offence continues.
- Corporations are liable of a fine up to $1,000,000, and an additional fine of up to $200,000 for each day the offence continues.
- Forfeiture of profits earned through undertaking the offended development activity.
Permits are required for a variety of development activities including but not limited to the construction of buildings, site grading, and placing or removing soil and fill materials within a regulated area. The public is strongly advised to contact GSCA staff when considering development projects to verify if a permit is required, what the application requirements are, and to avoid increased costs and the risk of prosecution.
For more information about the permit process, please visit: www.greysauble.on.ca/planning-regulations/planning-regulations-introduction/