Ontario's new minister of natural resources faces environmental charges

One of Ontario Premier Doug Ford's new cabinet ministers faces a September court date over charges that he violated the province's Endangered Species Act during his time as mayor of a cottage country town, CBC News has learned.

Graydon Smith, appointed Friday as minister of natural resources and forestry, was mayor of Bracebridge, Ont., for nearly 12 years until winning the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka for the Progressive Conservatives in the provincial election on June 2.

Smith is charged with harming or harassing Blanding's turtles, designated by Ontario as a threatened species, and with damaging or endangering the habitat of the turtles. The Town of Bracebridge itself and two senior municipal officials also face identical charges. 

The charges were brought by a local resident and have yet to be tested in court. Last Tuesday, three days before Smith was sworn in to cabinet, a justice of the peace signed off on the charges and ordered the case to proceed to court on Sept. 21. 

It's alleged the town and its officials disturbed the turtles and damaged their habitat by doing grading work between June and August 2021 on the Peace Valley Road, about 15 kilometres northeast of the Bracebridge town centre.

Michael Opara, the local resident who brought the charges, says he and his supporters emailed and called town officials to warn them of the turtle nesting site alongside the road near a creek, and made a presentation to council.

But the town forged ahead with the work.

"We have for over two years tried to get the town to listen," said Opara in an interview.

"One of their solutions is to pave over 60 meters of the roadway, including the turtle nesting grounds, and it came to a point where we had enough and the charges were filed." 

CBC News asked Smith and the premier's office Monday to respond to the allegations. The only response came from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 

"[Bracebridge] council heard the concerns raised and sought mitigation measures before moving forward with the project," said a ministry official in an email.

"Given this was a decision made by council, the municipality is in a better position to provide any further comment." 

A lawyer for the Town of Bracebridge said Monday that she is confident the charges will be thrown out.

"The fact is, and the evidence will show, that the town acted diligently and appropriately in completing required road works within the vicinity of turtle habitat," said Sarah Hahn, a partner with the firm Barriston Law.