A North York industrial bakery that was the subject of a Star investigation last year has been convicted under the Environmental Protection Act and fined $65,000, after pleading guilty to illegally expanding its facilities.

Fiera Foods, which is one of the region’s largest food manufacturers and was investigated by the Star for its use of temporary agency workers, was charged last year after Ministry of the Environment inspectors found the plant undergoing construction without the required environmental permissions in 2015.

Fiera’s offences took place between March 2014 and February 2016, the ministry added. The company will pay a victim surcharge of more than $16,000 in addition to the fine issued under the Environmental Protection Act.

Fiera’s counsel David Gelbloom did not respond to the Star’s requests for comment on the conviction, but has previously said the factory took a “series of noise mitigation measures” following ministry investigations and that it strives to be a “good corporate neighbour.”

Since 2016, local residents have lodged around a thousand noise complaints about the newly-expanded facilities, according to the ministry.

Fiera Foods was also charged with failing to implement noise control measures at its facility, but those charges were withdrawn as part of a negotiated plea agreement.

An investigation conducted two years ago by ministry inspector Linda Cioffi found Fiera and its sister company Marmora Freezing Corp. had expanded without ministry approval and had failed to install noise barriers around recently constructed cooling towers as required by the terms of its Environmental Compliance Approval, the reports obtained by the Star show.

In her investigation, Cioffi described visiting a nearby home and hearing “an audible hum of noise” upstairs, even when the windows were closed.

“During this time, operation of equipment was observed directly … which was believed to be (the factory’s) western cooling towers,” the report says.

The result was an “adverse effect on health” and “material discomfort” for local residents in violation of environmental protection laws, the report said. Several months later, she investigated again and found that the company had taken some measures to reduce noise but “continues to cause off-site impacts.”

The factory has since built noise barriers and has complied with all orders against it, the ministry confirmed.

A separate application by the company to receive retroactive approval for its factory expansion, which also did not receive the required municipal permits, was approved in December by the Ontario Municipal Board. The board ruled that the factory’s expansion met provincial criteria for “good planning,” and found there was no excessive noise generated specifically from the parts of its expansion under appeal.

Four local residents also appeared as participants before the board asking it to deny the appeal. They cited ongoing noise issues disrupting the community and argued that many of the jobs on offer at Fiera were temporary, precarious positions.

“Nowhere in provincial policy do we promote low-paying precarious employment,” testified Paul Zamperin, whose aging parents live behind the factory.

Last year, the Star sent a reporter to work undercover at Fiera, whose clients for its baked goods have included the likes of Tim Hortons, Walmart, Costco, Metro, Sobeys and Loblaw. The Star’s reporter, who was hired through a temp agency, received about five minutes of safety training, no hands-on instruction and was paid in cash at a payday lender without any documentation or deductions.

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Fiera and Marmora Freezing Corp. have been convicted under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in relation to the death of three temp agency workers since 1999.

In the wake of the Star’s investigation, Fiera announced it would conduct an internal audit of it use of temp workers, as well as its health and safety practices.