SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, November 6, 2006 – Munro Electronics of Saint John pleaded guilty in Provincial Court today to the illegal sale of ozone-depleting substances, a violation of the federal Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).

The Court imposed a penalty consisting of a $1000 fine payable to the Courts, and a $5000 fine payable to the Environmental Damages Fund, administered by Environment Canada (EC).  In addition to the fines, Munro Electronics is required to publish an article in a trade journal explaining the facts of the case, pay a prize of $100 to a deserving student in Environmental Studies at a local Saint John high school, and to develop a set of written procedures to implement in order to ensure that the company does not repeat the offence.

The penalties imposed by the Court on Munro Electronics demonstrate that creative sentencing can provide deterrence to the offender and any companies or individuals that may be involved in the sale of controlled substances.  In addition, creative sentencing in this case allows funds and public service messages to be directed back towards the community, where it can have a positive impact on understanding and protection of the environment.

Munro Electronics was originally charged on March 30, 2006, after EC enforcement officers inspected the company and found it was illegally displaying and selling an ozone-depleting substance.  This is not Munro Electronics first conviction.  The company was also convicted of a similar offence in 2001 for the sale of ozone-depleting substances, in violation of CEPA 1999.

The sale of ozone-depleting substances is controlled by the Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations, a regulation made under CEPA 1999.  This regulation controls the manufacture, sale, use and import of substances that have harmful effects upon the ozone layer.  This regulation was developed in response to Canada’s international commitment as a signatory to the Montreal Protocol which established measures for controlling the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

The Environmental Damages Fund, created in 1995, helps ensure polluters take responsibility for their actions.  It gives courts a way to guarantee that the money, from pollution penalties and settlements, is directly invested to repair the actual harm done by the pollution.  The money in the Fund is allocated to local organizations.  Groups who receive funding must carry out their projects in a technically feasible, scientifically sound and cost-effective way.

EC enforcement personnel investigate potential pollution offences under CEPA 1999 and the federal Fisheries Act.  They help ensure that companies, government employees and the general public comply with legislation and regulations that protect Canada's environment.

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