Serving the producers of the Northwest
FARMER North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Rancher
Thursday, June 20, 2019
SSGA announces benefit concert for Biggar area ranchers after devasting Argo fire Submitted The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is coordinating the Argo Wildfire Benefit Concert as part of its Wildfire Relief Fund to help Argo area ranchers affected by the mid-April wildfire. The benefit will take place on Saturday, July 6 at the Jubilee Stadium in Biggar. “By bringing together
the community, this benefit is a way to support those cattle producers affected by the wildfire,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber. Shortly after the April fire, SSGA launched a Wildfire Relief Fund to help ranchers in the Argo area affected by the wildfire. Over 22,000 acres of grass pastures were lost
and at least 75 miles of fences were destroyed. For cattle producers, the losses are a devastating setback at this time of the year, just when cattle need to be turned out to pasture. There are reports of some producers losing up to 80 per cent of their grazing pasture for the year. This means that, in the
short term, cattle producers will have to buy feed and rent summer grazing land to replace lost grass which may need up to two years to recover. “We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Agro Wildfire Benefit Concert,” said Darrell Crabble, SWF Executive Director. “Most ranchers provide access to Saskatchewan’s hunting and
angling community, and we felt playing a role in this event provides the SWF an opportunity to return their ongoing support. Ranchers provide crucial wildlife habitat and support healthy wildlife populations through stewardship of the land.” “We’re asking our members, and everyone who can help, to pull together for those in the
ranching community who suffered losses due to the wildfire,” Huber said. The benefit event will include a concert, live auction and dance. Tickets are available in advance for $25 or at the door for $30. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the concert starting at 8:00 p.m. For tickets, contact the Biggar & District Credit Union or SSGA at (306) 757-8523 or online.
Husky: ‘We’ve learned from this incident’ By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Husky Oil Operations Ltd. has been penalized $3.82 million after entering three guilty pleas in connection to the oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River on July 20 and 21, 2016. Husky pled guilty June 12 to two federal counts: allowing the deposit of a deleterious substance, blended heavy crude oil, contrary to s.40(2) of the Fisheries Act, and one count of permitting a substance harmful to migratory birds, blended heavy crude oil, under the Migra-
Duane Rae, VP production, Husky. Photo by John Cairns
tory Birds Convention Act. Husky Oil Operations Ltd.
A photo from the exhibits presented in court.
also entered a guilty plea on one provincial count for violating the Environmental Management and Protection Act. The guilty pleas cover the period July 20 and 21, 2016. The charges had initially covered a longer period but amendments were agreed to which reduced the date frame to those two days. The Crown withdrew the seven counts against Husky Oil Operations Ltd. of not taking reasonable measures to prevent the deposit of a deleterious substance under s. 40 (3) (e) Fisheries Act. As well, all federal charges filed against the parent company Husky Energy Inc. have been withdrawn. The pleas were entered in Lloydminster provincial court before Judge Lorna Dyck. She accepted the sentence recommendations, which were a joint submission from the federal and provincial Crown as well as the defence.
A photo from the exhibits presented in court.
On the federal charges, Judge Dyck imposed a fine of $2.5 million on the Fisheries Act count, or $1.25 million for each day July 20 and 21. The sentence falls within the range; the charge carries a minimum fine of $100,000 and a maximum of $4 million for each day for this offence. On count nine, the migratory birds charge, Dyck went along with the joint submission to impose a $200,000 fine. Both fines are payable to the Environmental Damages Fund which goes to benefit the environment. The penalty imposed on the provincial count was a fine on the provin-
cial count of $800,000, or $400,000 per day. The provincial surcharge was $320,000, for a total penalty of $1.12 million. This also fell within the range with the judge noting the maximum sentence is $1 million per day. The money here would go to the Impacted Sites Fund set up to clean up environmentally impacted sites. The fines are payable immediately, said Judge Dyck. Various other standalone orders were also made. In her remarks, Judge Dyck found the conduct of Husky towards the lower end of the scale. This was not an intentional act, she
said. There were two previous convictions against Husky, both related to improper operations of sewer systems in Ontario; Dyck called these of limited application in this case. Judge Dyck also acknowledged the guilty plea taking place prior to a trial date being set, as well as changes to practices and procedures by Husky as evidence of corporate remorse and contrition. Judge Dyck also noted the harm done by the spill as outlined in the agreed statement of facts. Judge Dyck was of the view that the need for general deterrence was Continued on Page 2