Landmark trial begins against City of Moncton, engineering firm
What: City of Moncton and Gemtec Ltd appear in provincial court for Day 1 of trial for allowing landfill to pollute Petitcodiac River.
When: 9:00 am Monday, September 22, 2003
Where: Provincial Courthouse Assumption Place 770 Main Street
Background: Environment Canada charged the City of Moncton and Gemtec Ltd, an engineering consultant, in 2002 for violations of the Fisheries Act.
The government laid the charges after Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, Daniel LeBlanc, and environmental lawyer, Mark Mattson, discovered toxic leachate from an old landfill polluting the Petitcodiac River in July, 2000. The discovery was made during taping of an episode of CBC?s ?The Fifth Estate? examining similar citizen investigations by Mattson in Ontario.
The charges against the engineering firm send an important message to the industry: environmental engineer firms should know environmental law and ensure that their professional advice meets Canada's legal standards.
Contact: Mark Mattson t) 416.861.1237 or email) Mark@waterkeeper.ca
-30-