There has been a significant push to develop Canada’s abundant natural resources in recent years. As we covered in our October 31, 2025, blog, one of the Key Measures of Ontario’s Bill 5 is to “Accelerate mining development in every part of the province.”
In our January 13, 2026, blog, we covered the News Release from the Ontario Government regarding the One Project, One Process, One Decision model. The agreement between the provincial and federal governments is intended to “build infrastructure faster and unlock resource development across the province, helping to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant Canadian economy,” while protecting the environment.
Environmental Enforcement and Natural Resources
While there has been an undeniable push to develop natural resources, there has also been a focus on environmental enforcement.
In a recent blog post, Cassels (Environmental Fines And Penalties: Enforcement Trends For The Natural Resource Sector) discusses environmental fines and penalties for the natural resources sector. In their blog, they state, “Environmental regulators across Canada are increasing the frequency and severity of enforcement actions, seeking higher fines and relying more on AMPs (Administrative Monetary Penalties) in lieu of prosecutions to secure quicker results, which has the added consequence of minimizing procedural protections for defendants such as statutory rights of appeal.”
There is an increased focus on developing Canada’s abundant natural resources while protecting the environment (Photo by Igor Kyryliuk & Tetiana Kravchenko on Unsplash).
They list several multi-million-dollar fines, including the largest sentence ever imposed by a court ($60 million) under the Fisheries Act, which found that a BC coal mine operator deposited coal mine waste rock leachate that accumulated in fish and adversely affected the quality of fish habitat.
We have covered some of the past environmental enforcement efforts, including:
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc. was sentenced by the Court of Québec to pay fines totalling $2 million after pleading guilty to eight counts of violating the Fisheries Act and the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations.
Teck Coal was fined $16 million because it “failed to have water treatment facilities ready by a required date” to treat nitrate and selenium.
Husky Oil Operations Limited/Cenovus Energy was ordered to pay $2 million after pleading guilty to one charge under the federal Fisheries Act and one charge under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
$100 Million Fine
As we covered in our June 25, 2025, blog, Environment and Climate Change Canada laid 200 charges against ArcelorMittal Canada Inc for violation of the Fisheries Act. That case was recently settled.
A News Release from ECCC stated, “On May 15, 2026, ArcelorMittal Exploitation Minière Canada s.e.n.c. (AMEM) was sentenced by the Court of Québec to pay a fine of $100 million, after pleading guilty to 100 counts of violating the Fisheries Act. AMEM was sentenced to pay $1 million per count. The total fine is the highest ever imposed in Canada under the Fisheries Act. The conviction relates to various deposits of deleterious substances that took place between May 2014 and May 2022. The amount of $99,999,900 will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund and will support projects that have a positive impact on Canada’s natural environment.”
In addition to the fine, the Court ordered AMEM to reimburse the cost of the investigation (approximately $250,000).
Natural Resources and the Economy
Natural Resources are an important part of the Canadian economy. According to Natural Resources Canada, “In 2024, the natural resources sector directly and indirectly accounted for 16.0% of nominal GDP in Canada ($459 billion).”
Development of natural resources will likely continue to grow to meet global market demands, and as with any market sector, there are ongoing environmental compliance challenges.
Environmental Assistance
If you have questions about environmental protection as it relates to natural resource development, contact Dr. Joel Gagnon.
If you need assistance with an environmental issue, contact Katherine Rey or Christopher Pare’, P.Geo., Q.P., at 519-948-7300.
Alan Hahn drafted this blog. Alan has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and completed a graduate program in Environmental Management. He has worked in environmental management for more than 45 years. He has written hundreds of blogs and articles. His published work includes HazMat Magazine, BizX Magazine, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, GreenStone Partners, Manure Manager Magazine, and Progressive Dairy.
Katherine Rey, EP, reviewed this blog. Katherine is a project manager at Dragun’s Windsor, Ontario, office. Katherine has more than 17 years of experience on projects ranging from environmental site assessments (Phase One/Two ESA), excess soils, remedial investigations, soil and groundwater remediation, Permits to Take Water, Records of Site Conditions, vapour intrusion, and site decommissioning. See Katherine’s bio.
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