Quebec's forests ministry imposes fines totaling C$286,985 for 87 forestry act violations, publishes names of 29 individuals and 24 companies found guilty of offenses

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , July 17, 2012 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – Quebec's ministry of natural resources and wildlife (MRNF) has named individuals and companies that have violated the province's forestry act and its regulations, according to a press release issued in French on July 16.

The ministry has published the names, charges and judgments for the period between December 11, 2011 and June 15, 2012. The publication lists 29 individuals and 24 companies who committed 87 offenses incurring total fines of C$286,985.

The 29 individuals were fined a total of $26,500 for offenses including cutting of wood without an appropriate license. The remaining 54 offenses were committed by forest sector companies, and incurred fines total ling $260,485.

According to the release, the act on forests and its regulations aim to protect forest resources, targeting four key areas: the size and distribution of cutblocks, water resource management, soil protection and the regeneration and protection of environmentally-sensitive areas. The ministry sees publicizing the names of companies and individuals that contravene the act as a way to achieve transparency, as well as to punish offenders.

The complete the list of the 87 offenses are available on the MRNF's website at www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/infractions.

The primary source of this article is a press release issued by the Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF), Quebec, on July 16, 2012.

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