Mike & Lori fined $30,000

Ministry of the Environment
Court Bulletin

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NORTH BAY — 698954 Ontario Inc. has been fined $30,000, plus a victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to violating the Ontario Water Resources Act.

698954 Ontario Inc. is a company which operates as Mike & Lori’s No Frills grocery store in North Bay. Between July 17 and 18, 2006, the City of North Bay experienced a power outage, causing a large quantity of food products at the store to degrade. A compactor was used to compact the spoiled food. During that process an unknown quantity of liquid leaked from the compactor, entered the storm sewer and flowed into Pinewood Park Creek.

698954 Ontario Inc. was charged following an investigation by the Ministry of the Environment’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

The company pleaded guilty to one count of violating section 30 (1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act by causing or permitting the discharge of a material, namely degraded liquid food product into Pinewood Park Creek that may have impaired the quality of the water. 698954 Ontario Inc. was fined $30,000, plus a victim fine surcharge, and was given 90 days to pay.

Justice of the Peace James V. Bubba heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay, Ontario, and imposed sentence on May 2, 2008.

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