Canada's Environmental Enforcement Act (EEA)

The Environmental Enforcement Act (or EEA) is the latest in a series of progressive measures to bolster environmental protection and conservation in Canada through enhanced enforcement of federal environmental legislation.

The EEA is omnibus legislation that amends the fines, sentencing provisions and enforcement tools of six acts administered by Environment Canada and three acts administered by Parks Canada.  It also creates the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act (or EVAMPA), which provides the authority to issue Administrative Monetary Penalties (or AMPs) under 10 federal environmental statutes. The combination of these measures will help achieve greater compliance and respect for Canada’s federal environmental legislation.

The EEA strengthens the Government of Canada’s commitment to effective environmental protection by complementing other ongoing measures, including increased funding for more enforcement officers and new enforcement tools.

See background on the EEA

2011 Online Consultations on Regulatory Proposal Under EVAMPA

EVAMPA came into force on December 10, 2010. Its full implementation requires the development of regulations and policies.  Environment Canada has developed a regulatory proposal, setting out key elements of a regulation that are required in order to implement a system of Administrative Monetary Penalties (or AMPs).

Under EVAMPA, AMPs may be issued under 10 environmental acts and their corresponding regulations.  These 10 acts are: the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act; the Canada Water Act; the Canada Wildlife Act; the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Parts 7 and 9); the International River Improvements Act; the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994; the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act; the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act; the Canada National Parks Act; and the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Act.

Between June 30 and September 9, 2011, we invite members of the public to view the proposal, and to submit comments to the following email address: legis.gov@ec.gc.ca.