April 30, 2025 - Longueuil, Quebec

Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers work across the country to enforce the laws and regulations that protect and conserve wildlife and its habitat. They work to reduce threats and harm to biodiversity.

On April 3, 2025, at the Longueuil Courthouse, the companies Habitations Pilon Inc. and Les excavations Jacques Germain & fils Inc. pleaded guilty to one count each of violating prohibitions set out in the Emergency Order for the Protection of the Western Chorus Frog Great Lakes / St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield Population (the Emergency Order), in contravention of the Species at Risk Act (the Act). Marc-Andre Tarte, a Chambly resident and the construction manager for the company Habitations Pilon Inc., and Maxime Germain, an excavator operator for Les excavations Jacques Germain & fils Inc. and a Chambly resident, also pleaded guilty to one count each in connection with the same offences. They were sentenced to pay fines totalling $35,000. An amount of $30,000 will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund and $5,000 will be paid to the Receiver General for Canada.

On November 16, 2023, during a routine patrol, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers observed evidence of heavy machinery traffic in the area protected by the Emergency Order. Officers also observed crushed vegetation. The visible damage covered an area of approximately 612 m². After investigating, they were able to determine that the companies Habitations Pilon Inc. and Les excavations Jacques Germain & fils Inc. were responsible for the damage caused by heavy machinery traffic in the protected area. The companies and their employees had driven through the area where the Emergency Order applies to make changes to a billboard. In so doing, the companies and the individuals violated subsection 2(1) of the Emergency Order.

A violation of the provisions of an emergency order constitutes an offence under the Species at Risk Act. The Emergency Order prohibits using vehicles anywhere other than on roads or paved paths. It also prohibits removing, pruning, mowing, damaging, destroying, or introducing any vegetation. In addition, the Emergency Order prohibits installing or constructing any infrastructure or performing maintenance on any infrastructure within the enforcement area. The Act prohibits killing or harming an individual of a wildlife species listed as threatened, as well as damaging or destroying the habitat of one or more species.

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