Released on November 27, 2008
A Quebec resident pleaded guilty to one count under Saskatchewan's Outfitter and Guide Regulations and one count under the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act and was fined $30,800 in Saskatoon Provincial Court.
Eric Nadeau from Saint-Robert-Bellermin, Quebec was convicted of unlawfully acting as an outfitter without an outfitter's licence and unlawfully aiding and abetting in contraventions of the Wildlife Act or Regulations. In addition to the fines, Mr. Nadeau was ordered to pay $2,200 to the SaskTip reward program and barred from hunting for five years.
The charges were laid as the result of a two-year investigation by the Ministry of Environment into public complaints of illegal outfitting. The investigation confirmed that different groups of hunters were arriving weekly and staying at a residence in Zenon Park owned by Nadeau. The hunters were provided with services by Nadeau that were consistent with those normally offered by licenced outfitters including guiding, transportation and accommodations.
"Illegal outfitting affects the businesses of licenced outfitters, as well as the overall management of our wildlife," Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services executive director Kevin Callele said. "We hope that the significant penalty imposed by the courts in this case will serve as a deterrent to those who try to profit from illegal outfitting."
Anyone who is aware of or suspects wildlife, fisheries or environmental violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province's toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SaskTip program.
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For more information, contact:
Gary Provencher
Environment
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-7928