Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Enforcing Canadian environmental and wildlife laws is one important way that Environment and Climate Change Canada is taking action to protect wildlife and nature.
On September 2, 2021, Wilson Arthur Brown, Wilson Pleman Frank Brown, and Carl Arthur Brown, of Summerford, Newfoundland and Labrador, were sentenced to pay a total of $32,000 in penalties for having each committed two offences under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
The three individuals were found guilty and initially sentenced in the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, on February 26, 2020. The sentence was subsequently appealed, and the matter was heard at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, on September 2, 2021. Wilson Arthur Brown and Carl Arthur Brown were each ordered to pay $10,000, and Wilson Pleman Frank Brown was ordered to pay a $12,000 fine.
The total fines will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
In November 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers were conducting a boat patrol in the Bay of Exploits area of Newfoundland and Labrador for the purpose of checking for compliance with migratory-game-bird hunting regulations. As part of the patrol, officers conducted an inspection of a boat with three hunters aboard. The hunters were found to be in possession of a long-tailed duck outside of the hunting season, which is a violation of the Migratory Birds Regulations. In addition, the hunters had a semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun onboard, unplugged and capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine, which is also a violation of the Regulations.
Some of the items seized during the investigation were forfeited to the Crown. Wilson Pleman Frank Brown is prohibited from applying for, using, or holding a migratory-game-bird hunting permit for two years, and Wilson Arthur Brown and Carl Arthur Brown are prohibited from applying for, using, or holding a migratory-game-bird hunting permit for one year.
Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) to anonymously report wildlife crimes. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 from Crime Stoppers.
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