Quebec Ministry of the Environment increases industrial pollution fines

The Ministry of the Environment has implemented significantly higher fines for companies engaged in high-risk industrial activities that violate the Environment Quality Act (LQE). Effective Thursday, these new penalties are designed to increase deterrence and encourage organizations to invest more heavily in risk prevention, environmental compliance, and impact reduction.

Under the new regulations, fines for failing to comply with ministerial authorization conditions will rise to $75,000. Additionally, penalties for discharging contaminants into the environment will increase tenfold, rising from $30,000 to $300,000.

The measures specifically target sectors with high potential for environmental impact, including battery manufacturing, oil refineries, mining, pulp and paper, aluminum smelting, foundries, cement production, steelmaking, and the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers, explosives, tires, and glass.