The Ontario government is safeguarding public land by ensuring people do not stay on Crown land longer than allowed and that they properly manage the resources during their stay.
Paul Bellavance of Timmins, pleaded guilty to leaving a camper trailer in the same spot at Fortune Lake for over 21 days and was fined $1,897. He was also fined $1,250 for unlawfully depositing a substance on public land and $1,000 for cutting down live trees without authorization.
Bobby Beaulieu-Rousseau of Kapuskasing, pleaded guilty to leaving a camper trailer in the same spot at Fortune Lake for over 21 days and was fined $1,897. He was also fined $1,250 for unlawfully depositing a substance on public land.
The court heard that on July 17, 2023, a complaint was received by the ministry tips line that three camper trailers had been parked at the Fortune Lake boat launch in Fortune Township, west of Timmins, for over 21 days.
On July 25, 2023, conservation officers attended the site and confirmed the trailers had been there more than 21 days. They also determined multiple live trees had been cut down and that the septic waste from each trailer was being deposited directly into the ground. Bellavance and Beaulieu-Rousseau were found to be the owners of the trailers and responsible for the tree clearing that had occurred.
Justice of the Peace Christine Leclair heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Timmins, on July 11, 2024.
