Update: The MNRF is not commenting on the seizures. Spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski, in an email to BayToday said, "Several ice huts have been seized as part of the investigation on Lake Nipissing. A charge has been laid. The individual has been charged with “placing a fishing hut on ice with the prescribed number not displayed” contrary to a section of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The matter is under investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment further."
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Original story
The man at the centre of a battle with the MNRF is accusing the government ministry of stealing his ice hut and depriving his family of its income.
Marc David Hyndman (aka Rochefort) told BayToday that, "I'm in trouble. This is how our government spends our tax dollars. They have wasted/spent more in one day than I would have earned all winter!"
The Ministry and the OPP combined yesterday to pull his huts off the ice near Sunset Point on Lake Nipissing and onto a flatbed tow truck on which they were hauled away.
See: Infamous ice hut owner defies ministry
In a video Hyndman sent to BayToday he can be heard accusing the MNRF of "stealing my hut".
"Violating my rights to safety, and violating my right to provide for my family and violating my right as a father to provide for my son."
The MNRF seized five day huts and one sleeper hut.
Hyndman came into public focus after posting an online ad for his fishing business, Icehutrentals.ca, in which he said natives carrying status cards were not welcome.
See: UPDATE: Apology issued (Ice hut rental ad draws complaints of racism)
A call to the MNRF for comment was not returned by publication time.
Hyndman doesn't have a commercial license, but attempted to circumvent the law by not charging customers.
Earlier, he wrote BayToday, "We had 2 customers from last year for the last 2 days and are coming back tomorrow plus 2 new guys. I haven't asked for a dime from them. I am on a donation basis and literally if all you had was lint in your pocket that's enough for me. Some people bring food, some people donate some small piece of fishing equipment or something the hut needs, some people put some gas in my truck."
This morning (Tuesday) he issued this invitation.
"IceHutRentals.ca is still in business even without our 5 day huts and one sleeper hut. I will be taking anyone who wants to go out fishing tomorrow (Tuesday) where my huts were stolen today. I still have a clam command post and my heaters!!! I don't want anyone's money. I suggest a donation to the foodbank in liu of my services. Literally I don't want a dime. I want the North Bay and Callander Food Banks to have all my money."
He also claims broad support from other anglers in his effort to have equal rights as natives to fishing the lake.
"The business community is speaking loud and clear, besides 2 whiny girls not focused on their own ice fishing business. We have rights too. We are claiming it is against our inherent human rights for any group to claim special and superseding rights to a common and needed resource. 'If it's not equal it's not legal'. I have to feed my son just as much as the man on the other side of the lake.
"If you're a man and I'm a man, then your children and my children can all play by the same rules. Treaties need to become legal with the current times and be passionately agreeable for both parties otherwise when one party holds hostage and degrades the interests of another party, well we get what we have here on Lake Nipissing! Ice Fishing Wars"
The company's Facebook page says it is now closed.
Despite warnings from the Ministry, Hyndman is continuing to use the title Incoming Honorable Minister of Natural Resources.
"I am still using that title and another quote you may use...I'm the smallest operator on Lake Nipissing and damn proud of it!"
