About the Tribunal
Mandate
The Environmental Protection Tribunal of Canada (EPTC) is a group of expert adjudicators (called Review Officers) who carry out review hearings of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) and Compliance Orders issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) enforcement officers. The EPTC is independent from ECCC and was formerly known as Environmental Protection Review Canada.Administrative Monetary Penalties
Enforcement officers of Environment and Climate Change Canada have the power to issue Administrative Monetary Penalties (“AMPs”) under the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations. AMPs may be issued in respect of prescribed violations of the following statutes: Antarctic Environmental Protection Act and its regulations, Canada Wildlife Act and its regulations, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and its regulations, Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and its regulations, Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and its regulations, International River Improvements Act and its regulations, and Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act and its regulations. Any person who has been issued an AMP may ask for an independent review conducted by a Review Officer. Review Officers have the authority to determine whether the person committed the violation and whether the amount of an AMP is correct. The decisions of Review Officers in respect of AMPs are final and, except for judicial review under the Federal Courts Act, are not subject to appeal.
Compliance Orders
Enforcement officers of Environment and Climate Change Canada also have the power to issue Compliance Orders to prevent a violation, to stop an on-going violation or to require that violations be corrected under the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act, Canada Wildlife Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, International River Improvements Act, and Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994. Any person who has been issued a Compliance Order may ask for an independent review conducted by a Review Officer. Review Officers have the authority to confirm or cancel a Compliance Order. They may also amend, suspend, add or delete a term or condition of a Compliance Order. The decisions of Review Officers in respect of Compliance Orders may be appealed to the Federal Court.