Canadian National Railway Fined $8 Million for Environmental Offences

Image Credit, Kanenori

In a case that underscores the critical need for stringent environmental oversight, Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has been fined $8 million by the Ontario Court of Justice. This penalty follows the company’s guilty plea to two charges under the Fisheries Act related to significant environmental violations stemming from train derailments in 2015.

The derailments occurred on February 14 and March 7, 2015, near Gladwick and Gogama, Ontario. On both occasions, CN’s trains released large quantities of crude oil into the environment. The February derailment led to an estimated 1.06 million litres of crude oil spilling into a creek flowing into Upper Kasasway Lake. The March incident saw approximately 2.6 million litres of crude oil released into wetlands and the Makami River, which flows into Minisinakwa Lake. These areas are recognized as waters frequented by fish, as defined under the Fisheries Act.

Investigations revealed that the derailments were due to the failure of railway tracks under the weight of the trains. CN’s lack of diligence in maintaining track infrastructure was a significant factor in the spills. The company’s maintenance practices—or lack thereof—allowed critical track failures to occur, resulting in these environmental disasters.

Following the derailments, CN undertook extensive remediation efforts. The company renewed and restored the affected track infrastructure in the Ruel subdivision and collaborated with the Mattagami First Nation on environmental recovery. Their restoration work included replanting native vegetation and creating a fish spawning lagoon near the Gogama bridge.

The $8 million fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. This fund supports projects aimed at repairing environmental damage and fostering ecological recovery. CN’s conviction will also lead to its inclusion in the Environmental Offenders Registry, which records corporate violations of federal environmental laws.

The prolonged resolution of this case—nearly eight years after the incidents—raises critical questions about the effectiveness and urgency of environmental enforcement. The delay in addressing such clear violations of environmental laws is a stark reminder of the need for more robust mechanisms to ensure corporate accountability and environmental protection.

Environment and Climate Change Canada, which administers the Fisheries Act and the Environmental Damages Fund, continues to emphasize the importance of preventing pollution and safeguarding Canada’s natural resources.