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Irving Oil Ltd. has been charged in relation to a diesel spill in Woodstock that was discovered in December 2024, according to a Wednesday news release.
Grant Enterprises Ltd. has also been charged.
In mid-December 2024, a Tim Hortons on Beardsley Road, which is beside Murray’s Irving gas station and restaurant, reported its water was contaminated with fuel. That led the restaurant and gas station to close following the discovery of the diesel leak at the Irving.
The news release from the province said two counts were laid Tuesday under the Clean Environment Act against the two co-accused companies related to the release of a contaminant into the environment and failure to immediately report the leak.
The release said that, according to the act, the fine for the offences could be up to $1 million.
The investigation was a collaboration between the Department of Justice and Public Safety and the Department of Environment and Local Government.
“Our government is firmly dedicated to upholding environmental compliance,” said Environment Minister Gilles LePage said in the news release.
CBC News requested an interview with Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin on Wednesday afternoon, but one was not provided.
The Beardsley Road Tim Hortons location closed that December despite earlier complaints from customers about the smell of fuel in the water and the taste of it in their drinks.
The province confirmed that there had been a spill in January 2025. By April of that year, the province confirmed 174,000 litres of diesel had been recovered.
In Wednesday’s news release, the province said about 180,000 litres of diesel were recovered.
CBC News reached out to Irving Oil on Wednesday afternoon but did not receive a response.
Attempts to reach Grant Enterprises were also unsuccessful.