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Toronto Plant Owner Jailed for Dumping Cyanide

Jan. 27, 2000

A metal plating company owner was given the longest jail term for an environmental offense in Ontario's history.

An owner of a metal plating company that dumped deadly waste into a Toronto creek has been given what is being called the longest jail term for an environmental offense in Ontario's history.

Emedio Perilli, one of the owners of Majestic Plating Corp., of Toronto, was sentenced Tuesday to a nine-month jail term and fined $6,000 for the incident.

The company pleaded guilty to four charges involving the dumping of effluent containing cyanide and metal compounds into Etobicoke Creek in May 1997.

It was fined $240,000, the Ministry of the Environment said.

The Ministry launched an investigation after receiving reports of dead fish and discolored water in Etobicoke Creek.

The spill killed thousands of fish, and harmed the creek's water quality.

The creek was closed of by the local health department.

The longest previous jail term for an environmental offence was eight months, according to a ministry official.

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Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.