CF Township fined for illegal pit on Crown Land

Jeff Green | Mar 17, 2011

On March 10, the Township of Central Frontenac was fined $36,000 for operating an aggregate pit on Crown land in the geographic Township of Kennebec, County of Frontenac.

The township pleaded guilty to the charge. As part of the plea resolution, the township also paid $58,817 to the Minister of Finance before the court hearing. The payment is equal to the royalty that would have been owed by the township if the pit had been permitted under the Aggregate Resources Act.

The court heard that an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources revealed that the township operated a pit between January 1, 2007, and October 2009 on Crown land next to property owned by the township in the former Township of Kennebec. The property owned by the township was licensed under the Aggregate Resources Act, but the ministry had not issued a permit to operate a pit on the Crown land. Between January 2007 and October 2009 the township removed approximately 148,260 metric tonnes of aggregate from the Crown land site.

Justice of the Peace Richard C.P. Sculthorpe heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Kingston.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry officer during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).