Ice Hut Removal Nets Fines

Media Release

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Two local area men have been fined for failing to remove their ice huts from Lake Nipissing by the March 31 deadline.

Daniel Abraham, 49, of North Bay, who was fined $200, moved most of his hut from Callander Bay, but left the floor and runners, which were partially frozen to the ice. He was fined another $100 for failing to display his registration number on the outside of the hut.

Andrew Gray, 30, of Powassan, was fined $250 for leaving his hut, also frozen in the ice, on the same bay.

Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers had to venture out onto rapidly deteriorating ice and remove both huts before they broke through the ice and sank to the bottom of the lake.

Justice of the Peace Mike Kitler heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, North Bay, on June 13, 2006.

The ministry reminds the public that ice hut registration numbers must be clearly displayed on the outside of the hut at all times and that all ice huts in the North Bay district must be removed from all water bodies by March 31.

Call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time to report a natural resource violation or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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