Timmins man fined for lying about his beaver count

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

**************************** Trapper fined $1,500 for falsifying documents

A Timmins man has been fined a total of $1,500 for falsifying documents related to his trapping effort.

Paul Coté pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false statement in a document and one count each of failing to comply with conditions of his trapping licence, failing to submit a report on time and making a false statement to a conservation officer.

Court heard that for the 2007/2008 and the 2008/2009 trapping seasons, Coté falsified his mandatory Season-End Harvest Reports by reporting beaver he had never harvested. 

Coté failed to trap 75 percent of his beaver quota for the 2008/2009 trapping season as required by his trapping licence.

Coté also did not submit his mandatory Season-End Harvest Report for the 2009/2010 trapping season, as required.

On May 29, 2011, a Ministry of Natural Resources Timmins District conservation officer interviewed Coté regarding his trapping history. 

Coté provided false information to the officer regarding the disposition of the beaver pelts he reported harvesting for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 trapping seasons. 

Coté could not substantiate if any of the beaver pelts he had reported ever existed.

Justice of the Peace Dolores Boyuk heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Timmins, on July 14, 2011.

Licensed trappers are required to complete a mandatory season-end harvest report indicating trapping efforts for each trapping season.

The report is to be submitted by June 10 of each year.

Trappers are also required to trap at least 75 percent of the beaver quota fixed on their trapping licences.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry officer during regular business hours. 

You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).   **************************** ///