By Colton Swiderski

Convenience store on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation fined 100K

Nov 14, 2016 | 9:00 AM

A Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation convenience store is facing a hefty fine for failing to comply with environmental regulations for petroleum storage.

They were fined $100,000 after warnings from Environment Canada in regards to updating their daily fuel logs for storage tanks.

Chief Richard Ben said store owners are making arrangements to pay the fine over the next two years.

“Our manager thought he was in compliance, he wasn’t so they were issued with a fine,” Ben said. “We spoke with our lawyer and Environment Canada and its strict ways, we had to go through with it.”

Since it’s a profitable store, Ben said the sizable fine won’t hurt the store owners but it will put a hold on future developments.

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“It frustrated me because I didn’t know much of the situation because the store runs as an independent business, we have council members who are portfolio holders for the store that get updates and they weren’t really informed,” Ben said.

“It would have been nice for the First Nation to get a warning or call so we could make sure action was taken.”

Ben said the situation proved to be a learning experience for everyone and their logs are now in compliance with federal regulations, though he has concerns since Whitefish First Nation was fined for the same offence.

“In a way, I can’t help but feel our First Nation stores are getting targeted,” Ben said, but didn’t elaborate

Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation is located 60 kilometres South-west of Meadow Lake.

Store management could not be reached for comment.

After several attempts to contact Environment Canada, meadowlakeNOW received an email the morning of Nov. 13 declining an interview request.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.