The National Capital Commission (NCC), a federal Crown Corporation, has been ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 for rock dust damage caused to the western chorus frog’s critical habitat.
The Species at Risk Act charge stems from actions that contravened a condition of NCC’s permit to develop a bicycle path in the western chorus frog’s habitat in Leamy Lake Park in Gatineau, Quebec.
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Canadian Shield population of the western chorus frog has been listed as threatened since 2010.
Permits are required for individuals, organizations, and businesses carrying out activities on federal land and areas protected by emergency orders that may affect species, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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The NCC is responsible for development, urban planning, and conservation in Canada’s Capital Region.
According to a federal enforcement notification, an October 2022 inspection by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers determined that rock dust had been deposited over a period of 15 days into the western chorus frog’s critical habitat during the NCC’s bicycle path project.
The NCC has also been ordered to conduct remedial work on the frog habitat.
The $50,000 fine was paid to the Receiver General for Canada. An additional $25,000 was paid to the federal Environmental Damages Fund.
Related Professional Development Course
Attend the “Environmental Compliance for the Aggregate and Construction Industries” training course at CANECT 2025 to learn about the environmental liabilities and regulatory obligations, including species at risk, facing construction projects and aggregate operations. This new course is being held April 29, 2025 at the CANECT Environmental Compliance and Due Diligence Training Event in Vaughan, Ontario. Visit www.canect.net for more information.
