Husky Oil is facing fines of $2.5 million in connection with the largest oil spill in this province’s history.

That was the joint recommendation by the Crown and company in provincial court yesterday.

It took less than three hours for 250,000 litres to spill into the Atlantic Ocean in November of 2018.

It happened when an underwater flow line became disconnected due to a series of technical issues near the SeaRose FPSO.

And while a lawyer for Husky insisted that couldn’t have been foreseen, he acknowledged there were missteps following signs of a problem.

Namely, a premature re-start of production, and less-than-thorough checks of the ocean surface for any signs of a spill.

The Atlantic VP of Cenovus—which has since acquired Husky—looked on as a company lawyer pled guilty to three charges in exchange for three others being withdrawn.

The parties landed on a $2.5 million fine, most of it involving offences under the Migratory Birds Act, with proceeds going toward an environmental fund.

A total of 17 oiled birds were spotted near the spill, with seven captured. Two of them were released, two were dead, while the other three either died or were put down.

As for the ocean, rough weather prevented an immediate clean up, and within two days the spill had dispersed and nothing could be recovered..

The judge will take some time to decide whether to accept the proposed fine or impose her own.

Sentencing is set for April 26.